Rain Garden Dedication at Deer Crossing Elementary School

Submitted by: Kay Schultz
Community Restoration Coordinator
Frederick County DPW

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On September 17, 2008, students, parents and teachers celebrated the 10th anniversary of Deer Crossing Elementary School by dedicating a beautiful, native Rain Garden at the front of the school to filter out pollution flowing into Lake Linganore, to provide habitat for native plants, butterflies and birds, and to serve as an aesthetic feature and educational resource for the school.  Planted in spring, 2007 by parents, teachers and students, the garden has been stewarded with tender love and care so that native plants are beautifully established in this landscape and educational feature.

Melissa Desmond and Jennifer Gorham, both teachers and parents and Rain Garden team leaders at Deer Crossing, shared the story of the garden with all of the school students and teachers as well as distinguished guests and parents at the special dedication and celebration on September 17, 2008.  Six students each one representing one grade level from Kindergarten to 5th grade spoke about a particular native garden plant and its characteristics black eyed Susan, New York ironweed, swamp milkweed, switch grass, and river birch.  Students making the presentation were Kindergarten, Colton Stone;
First Grade, Harrison Heitzig; Second Grade, Nadia Appiah; Third Grade, Antonio Rios; Fourth Grade, Tamia Clark; and Fifth Grade, Kailan Stewart.

Roof water from the school is collected in rain barrels for watering during dry periods.  Barrel overflow is directed into the rain garden, flowing over a dry streambed of Delaware river stone.  Cub scouts have built and installed three birdhouses in the garden.

Kay Schultz, the Frederick County Community Restoration Coordinator (kschultz@fredco-md.net), coordinated the installation of the garden.  Bryan Seipp, Director of Restoration with Potomac Conservancy, designed and directed the installation of the garden.  Funding for the garden was provided with a grant from the Maryland Department of the Environment under Section 319h of the federal Clean Water Act.

For additional information about the garden, contact Jennifer Gorham jennifer.gorham@fcps.org.