Main Park Rain Garden
Just as a wetland naturally reduces the severity of downstream flooding and allows for the percolation of water in the groundwater supply, well-planned rain gardens can accomplish similar objectives. Native plants are well adapted to our climate and provide food and shelter for local wildlife. Scroll down to go through a year in the Mt. Lebanon Rain Garden.
Did you find this website from a small envelope? Click here to learn more about your seeds.
January and February are for winter sowing. Grow your own natives for dirt cheap using this guide from the PA Native Plant Society.
May/Early June
Shown Below (Top to Bottom; Left to Right):
Butterfly Weed, Buttonbush, Wood Geranium
Downy Wood Mint, Wild Bergamot, Rattlesnake Master
Shrubby St. John's Wort, Tickseed, Spiderwort
Not Shown: White Beardtongue, Golden Alexander, Meadowsweet, Beebalm
Late June
Shown Below: Top to Bottom; Left to Right
Blue Vervain, Mountain Mint, Joe Pye Weed
Not Shown: Blazing Star, Common Milkweed
July
Shown Below: Top to Bottom; Left to Right
Evening Primrose, Sunflower
August/September
Shown Below: Top to Bottom; Left to Right
Great Blue Lobelia, Blue Mistflower, Bottle Gentian
Not Shown: Black Eyed Susan, Asters, and Goldenrod
Non-Blooming Plants
No showy flowers, but we still love them.
Shown Below: Top to Bottom; Left to Right
Fragrant Sumac
Not Shown: Inkberry, Black Chokecherry, Little Bluestem
How it Started
The Main Park Rain Garden was started in 2012 with support from Stormworks. It was maintained up to 2020 before the weeds took over and then it was resurrected in Spring of 2022. Check out the photos below to see the progression from invasives to a diverse native planting!
Seed Giveaway - Meet the Plants
Golden Alexander
Moisture: Moist to Wet
Sun Exposure: All
Bloom Time: May, June
Height: 1-3 ft
Host plant for swallowtails
Butterfly Weed
Moisture: Dry
Sun Exposure: Sun
Bloom Time: June
Height: 1-2 ft
Host plant for monarchs
White Beardtongue
Moisture: Moist
Sun Exposure: Sun - Part Sun
Bloom Time: July
Height: 2-3 ft
Long-lasting blooms
Rattlesnake Master
Moisture: Dry
Sun Exposure: Full Sun
Bloom Time: May, June
Height: 4 ft
Deer Resistant
Wild Bergamot
Moisture: Dry to Moist
Sun Exposure: Full to Partial Sun
Bloom Time: July
Height: 3 ft
Deer Resistant, Highly Adaptable
Blazing Star (Liatris)
Moisture: Moist
Sun Exposure: Sun
Bloom Time: August
Height: 4 ft
Attracts hummingbirds
Purple Coneflower
Moisture: Dry to Moist
Sun Exposure: Full to Partial Sun
Bloom Time: July
Height: 4 ft
Deer Resistant
Blue Vervain
Moisture: Moist to Wet
Sun Exposure: Full
Bloom Time: July
Height: 5 ft
Host Plant of Common Buckeye
Ironweed
Moisture: Moist to Wet
Sun Exposure: Full
Bloom Time: August
Height: 5 ft
Host Plant of American Lady
Blue Mistflower
Moisture: Dry to Moist
Sun Exposure: Partial Sun
Bloom Time: September
Height: 2 ft
Deer Resistant, Fall Blooms
Wreath Goldenrod
Moisture: Dry to Moist
Sun Exposure: Partial Shade
Bloom Time: September
Height: 3 ft
Deer Resistant, Fall Blooms
Common Milkweed
Moisture: Moist
Sun Exposure: Sun
Bloom Time: July
Height: 5 ft
Deer Resistant, Monarch Host
White Turtlehead
Moisture: Moist to Wet
Sun Exposure: Partial Sun to Sun
Bloom Time: September
Height: 4 ft
Baltimore Checkerspot Host
Deer Resistant
Black Eyed Susan
Moisture: Dry to Moist
Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Sun
Bloom Time: July
Height: 2 ft
Supports Birds
Evening Primrose
Moisture: Dry to Moist
Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Sun
Bloom Time: September
Height: 5 ft