Garden State

The final phase of construction has begun on the new rain gardens in Tipperary Hill’s Pass Arboretum, along Avery Avenue, with planting and landscaping expected to be completed by June 1. “The plan was to come back in the spring and actually do the planting,” explained B.J. Adigun, program coordinator for CH2M Hill, the county’s Save the Rain program consulting firm. 

“If you plant in the winter, sometimes those plants don’t take. We had a crazy winter/early spring. That kind of pushed back our schedule a little bit because we really wanted to make sure that the plantings would survive. If you put them in too soon when the weather really hasn’t turned over, there’s a good chance that you’ll be re-planting. We want to ensure we have a thriving, successful rain garden.”    

Meanwhile, a similar project is on the same timetable for the entrance to the Rosamond Gifford Zoo along Wilbur Avenue. Both projects involve planting of flowers and shrubbery. Neighbors can expect immediate improvements in the look of the area, especially since excavation and drainage projects had left large depressions void of plant growth or even grass. 

“The contractor now is out there working on plantings at both places,” Adigun said. “You’re going to see the activity pick up and you’re going to see the rain gardens fully established by June 1. The plan was always to not only capture rain water, but also be aesthetically pleasing areas for people to enjoy.”