Meadow & Rain Garden Workshop Register

Date and Time:
Sat, Oct 4, 2025; 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM  (Eastern)

Organized By: Greater Baltimore Group

🌿 Meadow & Rain Garden Workshop 🌿
📅 Saturday, October 4th | 🕙 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon
📍 Home of Paul Dongarra, 11 Forest Drive

Sponsored by: Sierra Club – Greater Baltimore Group, Wild Ones Greater Baltimore and the Baltimore County Master Gardeners' Program

Join us for a hands-on workshop exploring the beauty and practicality of meadows and rain gardens. This event will combine education, inspiration, and community connections for anyone interested in native plants, sustainable landscaping, or climate resilience.

🌱 About the Garden

The Dongarra meadow and rain garden grew out of both vision and necessity. After a second devastating flood in their neighborhood, Paul and his family were determined to create something that could help the community while fulfilling a long-held dream. They envisioned a natural meadow that would reduce mowing, provide vital pollinator habitat, and bring a sense of awe to the neighborhood.

With renewed purpose, the design began in the winter of 2019 and was put into action at the start of the COVID lockdown. Today, the system thrives with little bluestem as its foundation, accented by native wildflowers such as liatris, coneflower, black-eyed susans, goldenrod, and asters. Specimen plants like Buttonbush, Viburnum Nudum, Winterberry, and Sweet Bay Magnolia further enrich the landscape, offering food and habitat for wildlife year-round.

🌎 Workshop Goals

Participants will learn:

• How to assess whether your site is right for a rain garden

• Sizing and preparing a rain garden for long-term success

• Meadow preparation and maintenance tips

• Where to find gardening mentors and resources

• Opportunities to purchase native plants

• Participate in a native seed swap 🌾. If you already grow native plants, feel free to bring seeds to share.

Most importantly, this workshop is about building connections — with the land, with plants, and with one another.

Whether you’re just getting started or already have native plantings of your own, we invite you to come learn how small steps in our yards can protect neighborhoods, build climate resilience, and beautify our communities.

Cancellation Policy: Steady rain cancels