Rotary Rain Garden Reset – August 27, 2024

The Stillwater Noontime Rotary is known for its many projects that benefit the community, and one such initiative is the maintenance of a beautiful rain garden located at the intersection of Oak Street W. and Fourth Street S. This garden, situated near the summertime open-air Farmer’s Market, was lovingly cared for by a dedicated Rotarian until her relocation to Hugo two years ago. With her move, it became increasingly difficult for her to continue maintaining the Stillwater garden, and the Noontime Rotary found themselves in search of a new caretaker.

Recognizing the importance of this garden to the community, the President-Elect of Stillwater Noontime Rotary pledged to find a replacement gardener. Enter Sustainable Stillwater MN (SSMN). Our Rain Garden Maintenance team understands that many people today feel uncertain about their gardening skills—especially when stepping into a garden established by someone else. To lend a helping hand, the SSMN Rain Garden Maintenance Coordinator reached out to the Rotary President late this summer, offering the assistance of two young volunteers passionate about the environment.

Coordination was key. The President-Elect of the Noontime Rotary eagerly accepted the offer and wanted to stay connected with our communications regarding the two volunteers—young women from New Richmond and Woodbury, respectively. A mutually agreeable date was set: August 27.

Noontime Rotary Volunteers

What happened next was remarkable. Instead of just the two volunteers, the Noontime Rotary gathered a group of five! Five dedicated volunteers—comprising Rotarians and gardening friends—were ready to tackle the project.

The garden that the Noontime Rotary is committed to maintaining is modest in size, but it sits near an encroaching wooded strip that poses challenges. With five volunteers now on board, SSMN organizers decided the two young volunteers could be reassigned to other gardens in need of care. (Read more about this in, High School Volunteers Make a Big Impact on the Rain Garden Program)

August 27 was a busy day for our trusted mentor and expert gardener, Michele Cassavante. Michele has generously lent her skills to the Rain Garden Maintenance program on numerous occasions and once again divided her time between the Rotary garden and another garden at the corner of Third Street S. and Churchill Street W., assigned to Bella, the New Richmond volunteer. Michele’s mentorship was invaluable as she provided practical suggestions and encouragement at both sites.

With five volunteers at the ready, the Rotarians went above and beyond. They cleared not only the rain garden itself but also the surrounding area, removing raspberry bushes, hackberry saplings, creeping bellflower seed stalks, and lots of creeping Charlie. Their hard work opened up the space and restored its beauty.

We invite the community to celebrate alongside Stillwater’s Noontime Rotarians as they continue their stewardship of this lovely rain garden. Their dedication and teamwork have paved a clear and vibrant path forward for the garden’s future.

Ruth Alliband

Sustainable Stillwater MN Rain Garden Workgroup Leader