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We were pleased to participate in the Summer 2008 "One Planet -- Ours!" exhibition at the U.S. Botanic Garden on the Mall in Washington, D.C., promoting sustainable design elements.

Our exhibit, entitled "Rainscaping -- Beautiful Solutions to Water Pollution," focused on managing stormwater runoff, a dire problem for the Chesapeake Bay and its streams and rivers. The CCLC garden offered attractive landscaping solutions that help clean stormwater before it enters streams or the groundwater system.

Our garden was located on the east side of the Botanic Gardens at 100 Maryland Ave, SW. See the map here.

Although the exhibition closed in fall 2008, our garden remained on display thorugh October 2009.

What’s the problem with stormwater? Over time, people have changed the Chesapeake region’s landscape from fields and forests to more hard surfaces – roads, sidewalks, and roofs, as well as lawns that are often compacted. As rainwater runs over these hard surfaces, it collects fertilizers, pesticides, loose soil, motor oil, pet waste, and trash. These pollutants eventually run into storm drains, which empty directly into the nearest stream or river. In short, anything that is put on the land can (and often does) end up in your local creek, stream, river or Chesapeake Bay.

The CCLC garden demonstrated a better way to manage stormwater through landscape design. Features included a series of rain gardens linked by dry stream bed, pervious pavers, rain barrels, and native plants that are adapted to the region’s varying climate. These elements reduce, trap, and filter runoff so that cleaner water flows to our waterways. They also create healthy habitat areas full of beauty and life.

See a drawing of the garden here and a slideshow about it here (large 3841 KB file).

The CCLC exhibit was made possible by the generous contributions of multiple donors and partners.

Special Thanks to those who made this garden happen:

John Snitzer, Snitzer Landscaping (garden design and installation)
Louise Toby, Beyond Lawn(garden design)

And CCLC members including:
Adkins Arboretum
Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Arlington Echo Outdoor Education Center
Audubon Maryland-DC
Chesapeake Ecology Center
David Hilmy
Environmental Concern Inc.Maryland Department of Natural Resources
Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection
Sarah Smiley Knapp

The Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council’s exhibit was made possible in part by generous contributions by:

The U.S. Botanic Garden
Alden Farms
Babikow Greenhouses
The Behnke Nurseries Company
Cavano’s Perennials
Colony Supply Company
Dogwood Hill Farm
Hydro-LogixSolutions, Inc.
Irwin Stone
Kentucky Barrels
Manor View Farm
Maryland Environmental Service
Native Daughter Nursery
The Perennial Farm