Rain Gardens

Background and History

The expanded garden adds beauty while solving the standing water in the transitional zone between existing Butterfly Hummingbird Rain Gardens’ trellis area and TNC woodland. It features over 20 different native plants.

See the grant application (with diagrams and photos) and award.

Recognition and gratitude to the community members listed below who help bring this new site into fruition. These thank you’s are presented chronologically.

Washtenaw Conservation Stewards Program

The Thurston Nature Center New Rain Garden Extension was the Capstone Project of Cathleen Adams in the Fall 2019, to complete Certification of the Washtenaw County Conservation Stewards Program. Many thanks to the encouragement and teaching from the MSU Extensions Instructors.

Thank you

• Bindu Bhakta
• Katie Carlisle
• Jason Frenzel
• and Cathleen Adams’s capstone mentor Catherine Wytychak

Also including Program Partners:

• Washtenaw County Parks and Recreation Commission Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner
• Huron River Watershed Council City of Ann Arbor Natural Areas Preservation
• Michigan Nature Association
• Washtenaw Conservation District

Winter 2019-2020

From the Capstone Project completed at only a small size of 176 sq. feet initially, with revision and input, and encouragement, this Thurston Nature Center Rain Garden design was re-envisioned and grew approximately 7 times the original size, site plan and plant list revisions, redrafted by C. Adams with input and review 

Thank you

• Sandy Breck
• Susan Bryan
• Catherine Wytychak

March-April 2020

Official Presentation of the Rain Garden Design Plan to Thurston Nature Center Committee; Preparation and submission for Grant to Washtenaw County Clean Streams Initiative.

Thank you

March-June 2020

• Wildtype of Mason Michigan agreed to grow our plants and tend them well until delivery. Special Gratitude to the owner Bill and his associate Gina for care and arrangements.

Thank you

• Wildtype of Mason Michigan
• Thurston Nature Center Community

June 6, 2020

Sod-cutter, arrangement & funds- the Brecks (staying within grant budget). Intense 4-hour and 4-person team-work to remove all sod! And place in rolls.

Thank you:

• Cathleen Adams
• Jim Breck
• Sandy Breck
• Michael Tucker

June 7, 2020

Wildtype Nursery delivered to Thurston Nature Center, and these planting flats were in the foster care homes of three people in the community from the time of delivery, through heat wave till planting out days later.

Thank you:

• Holly Zechar-Thurston Nature Center fund meeting with Allen of Wildtype
• Cathleen Adams Home,
• Sandy Breck Home
• Smita Malpani Home

June 8, 2020

Choosing store availability to stay within budget, paying for soil, and delivering to TNC (what her car would hold)

Thank you:

• Cathleen Adams

Organizing Pick up of remaining purchase. Picking up soil at store & dropping where the team [see list below] to unload waited ready to go 

Thank you:

• Elizabeth Morehead
• Gary 

Thank you:

June 11, 2020

Meeting to determine next steps

• Cathleen Adams
• Sandy Breck

June 12, 2020

Choosing store availability of mulch to stay within budget, paying for soil, and delivering to Thurston Nature Center. 

Thank you:

• Cathleen Adams
• Judy Adams

Unloading mulch, planting in, adding mulch, and intensive labor in hauling water

• Cathleen Adams
• Jim Breck
• Sandy Breck
• Christopher Briggs
• Hannah Briggs
• Tracy Briggs
• Betsy Foote
• Jane Lumm
• Margaret
• Marie Kilbane
• Michelle 
• Pam O’Neal
• Holly Zechar
• Wesley Zechar

June 13, 2020 and beyond

Choosing store availability of mulch to stay within budget, paying for soil, and delivering to Thurston Nature Center 

Thank you:

• Cathleen Adams
• Judy Adams

Unloading mulch, planting, intensive labor in hauling water, purchasing hose, sign-up creation, watering, weeding, mulching and maintaining from June until the end of summer 2020.

Thank you:

• Cathleen Adams
• Rosalyn Barclay
• Jim Breck
• Sandy Breck
• Emily Eisbruch
• Avi Eisbruch
• Rob King
• Brett J.
• Hana Lee Hughes
• Howard Hughes
• Ryan Poe
• Kelly Poe
• Praveena Ramaswami
• Madhan Ramaswami
• Meera Ramaswami
• Leela Ramaswami
• Linh Song
• Jaegun Song
• Quynh Song
• Camellia Sakamoto
• Gerry Hish

• Jane Lumm
• Amy, Darrell, Lydia Sonntag
• Colin Brooks
• Nilesh and Dhruv Mankame
• Phil and Kyle Davey
• Thurston Nature Center Community

Note: Others may have helped whom we left out. Apologies! Please email communications@thurstonnaturecenter.info to get your name added.

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May 2023, the garden is thriving!