Honey Horn rain garden thriving

The photos above show the rain garden at Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn Plantation as of August 2010. The rain garden was planted by the Leadership Class and friends in March 2010.

May River Montessori Rain Garden in the news

Bluffton Today daily newspaper covered the Leadership Hilton Head-Bluffton Class of 2010's planting of a rain garden at May River Montessori School on Calhoun Street in Bluffton. Check out the story here: http://www.blufftontoday.com/news/2010-05-27/leadership-class-installs-rain-garden.

Leadership Class plants May River Montessori School Rain Garden

The Hilton Head-Bluffton Leadership Class of 2010 teamed up with May River Montessori School in Bluffton, and with the Town of Bluffton, to plant a rain garden at the Montessori School on Calhoun Street. The garden features a rain barrel installed by the Town of Bluffton as part of its overall water quality and conservation initiative.

The Leadership Class and friends plant the

May River Montessori School rain garden on May 21, 2010.

The May River Montessori School rain garden site prior to planting.

Building a Rain Garden in a Planned Community: Tips for Dealing with Your POA

The Hilton Head-Bluffton Leadership Class of 2010's Legal team has prepared a set of tips designed to help residents of planned communities navigate their property owners associations' landscape covenants -- on their way to building beneficial and beautiful rain gardens in their communities! The team compiled the tips through online research, POA interviews, and site visits. At the conclusion you'll find an extensive list of links taking readers directly to the POA and/or ARB in communities throughout Southern Beaufort County.


OK, so you’re interested in building a rain garden – good for you! You’re planning something that is good for the environment and your community at large. Please keep in mind, however, that some communities place restrictions on what you can and cannot build, and this extends to landscaping as well. This article will give you a few pointers on what to look for in your community.

Just like county or municipal governments might place zoning restrictions on properties within their jurisdiction, some communities place rules on homes and lots within their borders. These rules are typically called Covenants, Conditions, and Restrictions (CC&Rs for short or simply Covenants) and they guide how a community is built and maintained. CC&Rs are normally recorded in the County records so that all owners in the community, existing or prospective, are aware of the restrictions.

These CC&Rs typically establish an organization or association that administers the day-to-day operations of the community. This organization is often called a Property Owners Association (POA) or something similar like HOA for homeowners or COA for community owners. The POA may also establish committees or boards to help in governing the community, and an Architectural Review Board (ARB) is likely to be a key part of this structure.

The ARB will publish rules that guide the design and construction of improvements within the community. The ARB may look at issues including the design of the house, color, aesthetic issues, grading, and even landscaping of the property. Since a rain garden would be considered part of the landscaping, you should check with your POA or its ARB to make sure your planned improvements are allowed.

In general, the ARB is likely to be interested in making sure the rain garden is compatible with the POA rules and the surrounding areas. They may be interested in the design to make sure it is aesthetically pleasing. Since some POAs also check to make sure drainage isn’t a problem, they may ask how your rain garden is graded so that stormwater doesn’t flow onto a neighbor’s lot. On a related note, one POA even asked us how deep the rain garden was going to be since they didn’t want a safety hazard for children or pets. Of course, the rain garden should only have a shallow depression, so that shouldn’t be a problem!

You may have already sketched or planned your proposed rain garden, and a few key points will help you to prepare for your trip to the POA. For example, is your rain garden part of a new house construction project or is it a retrofit to an existing home? If it qualifies as new construction, then just add the rain garden to the landscaping plans being prepared by your architect or landscape architect. If it is a retrofit of a portion of your existing landscaped area, then you should check with your POA as to whether a permit is required.

Is the rain garden large or small? In one large community, the architectural guidelines noted that we only needed a permit if our rain garden was going to modify a significant portion (25% or more) of the existing landscaped area.

Is your project simple or complex? One POA staff member that we interviewed indicated a simple rain garden is just a part of the landscaping but if we added a rain barrel with attachments then we would need to get a permit.

Where on your lot will you build your rain garden? At one POA, we were told that there wouldn’t be any problem with a rain garden in the back yard or courtyard area since those areas weren’t visible from the street or by the neighbors. However, they indicated there may be more scrutiny given to a rain garden in a prominent or visible area by the roadways.

Keep in mind that the POA and its staff members are generally looking to protect the residents in the community, and your ability to provide good information on your proposed rain garden will help them make an informed decision. We have heard first-hand from various POAs that rain gardens are welcome – and we hope you get to build yours soon!


Online Resources

Hilton Head Plantation – Architectural Guidelines
http://www.hiltonheadplantation.com/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=%2bZo04WehUME%3d&tabid=91

Sea Pines Plantation – ARB Guidelines
http://www.seapinesliving.com/doc/AdobeViewer.asp?doc_filename=/HOA/assn17334/documents/arbguides09.PDF&sfind=&print=1&docid=362316

Palmetto Dunes – ARB Policies, Procedures and Guidelines
http://www.pdpoa.org/doc/documentviewer.asp?doc_filename=/HOA/assn10842/documents/11-01-08%20PPG%27s%20Consolidated.doc&sfind=&docid=220314&print=1

Indigo Run – ARB & Other Documents
http://www.indigoruncoa.org/doc/toc.asp?assn_id=14149&link_id=123585

Palmetto Hall – ARB Guidelines
http://www.palmettohallhhi.com/ARBStandardsandGuidelines2009.pdf

Port Royal Plantation – Plans Approval Board Guidelines and Procedures
http://www.portroyalplantation.net/pab_forms/PAB_Guidelines.pdf

Spanish Wells – Plans Approval Board Home Page
http://www.spanishwellsplantation.com/s_index.php?u=pab.php
Windmill Harbour – Rules and Regulations
http://www.windmillharbour.org/rules.htm

Long Cove Club http://www.longcoveclub.org/club/scripts/library/view_document.asp?GRP=12437&NS=REALTOR&APP=80&DN=ARB

Shipyard Plantation
http://www.shipyardhhi.com/forms/formDisplay.asp?frm_id=35400&assn_id=14545

Wexford Plantation
http://www.wexfordplantation.com/ascrealtor.php

Rose Hill Plantation – Architectural Standards & Review Procedures
http://www.rosehillpoa.com/hoa/assn16939/images/ARB%20STANDARDS.pdf

Colleton River Plantation – Architectural Review Board Webpage
http://www.colletonriverclub.com/architectural-review-board

Moss Creek – ARB Guidelines & Procedures
https://mosscreekgc.memberstatements.com/Clubs/MossCreekGC/Uploaded/FacilityPics/MCOA%20Governing%20Documents/2010%20ARB%20Guidelines.pdf

Baynard Park
http://www.baynardpark.org/hoa_documents/public_documents/index.php

Rose Hill
http://www.rosehillpoa.com/Forms-&-Applications~242746~16939.htm

Old Carolina
http://www.imcresortservices.com/properties/trad_maincov.pdf

Colleton River
http://www.colletonriverclub.com/architectural-review-board

Pinecrest
http://pinecrestpoa.org/index_files/forms/accguidelinesmar102009.pdf

Sun City – Riverbend
http://www.riverbendcommunity.com/Riverbend%20Design%20Guidelines%20Part%20II%20Revised%20Dec%2020061.pdf

Palmetto Bluff
http://www.palmetto-bluff.com/design_review.asp

Bluffton Today covers Red Cedar Rain Garden

This link is to a story from Bluffton Today daily newspaper about the Leadership Class and fifth-grade students' Earth Day 2010 planting of the rain garden at Red Cedar Elementary School in Bluffton: http://npaper-wehaa.com/bluffton-today/#2010/04/23/?article=843286

Red Cedar Elementary and Sea Pines Montessori Academy Go Green on Earth Day 2010!

Fifth-grade students at Red Cedar Elementary School in Bluffton and middle school students at Sea Pines Montessori Academy on Hilton Head Island planted rain gardens in conjunction with the Leadership Hilton Head-Bluffton Class of 2010, as part of the students' Earth Day 2010 observances. Below are photos from the plantings.

Leadership Class members prepare the Red Cedar site for planting by removing sod.

Leadership Class member Amy Henz puts the finishing touches on the Red Cedar rain garden -- a little H20!

Sea Pines Montessori Academy middle school students plant a rain garden at their school as part of Earth Day and their environmental science studies.

Leadership Class members pose with the Sea Pines Montessori rain garden team after their planting.

Rain Garden Plant Lists

Below are the plant lists from the Leadership Hilton Head-Class of 2010 Rain Garden projects at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn Plantation on Hilton Head Island, and at Red Cedar Elementary School in Bluffton.


Honey Horn Rain Garden:

• Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
• Fetterbush (Lyonia lucida)
• Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
• Sweetspire (Itea virginica 'Little Henry')
• Variegated Acorus Grass (Acorus gramineaus variegata)
• Blue Flag Iris (Iris virginica)
• Butterfly Weed (Asclepis curassavica 'Blood Flower')
• Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
• Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia fulgida)
• Lantana (Lantana 'Miss Huff')
• Sedum (Sedum 'Matrona')

Red Cedar Rain Garden:

• Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens)
• Dog Hobble (Luecothoe axillaris)
• Dwarf Wax-Myrtle (Myrica cerifera 'nana')
• Henry's Garnet Itea (Itea virginica)
• Louisiana Iris (Iris louisiana)
• Bunny Blue Sedge Grass (Carex laxiculmis)
• Soft Rush (Juncus effusus)
• Pink Muhly Grass (Muhlenbergia capillaris)
• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia fulgida)

Rain Garden Kids: Schools to build Earth Day rain gardens

The Leadership Hilton Head-Bluffton Class of 2010 has joined with students at Red Cedar Elementary School in Bluffton and at Sea Pines Montessori Academy on Hilton Head Island to plant rain gardens at each school on April 22, as part of the students' Earth Day observance.

Students in 5th grade teacher Jodi Nason's class will be planting the Red Cedar rain garden. A group of middle school students at Sea Pines Montessori will plant their school's rain garden. Leadership Class members Alan Arseneau and Steve Sugg worked with the schools to bring the gardens to life. Russ Charek of LowCountry Rain Barrel donated a rain barrel that will be used in the Sea Pines Montessori rain garden.

Davis Landscape of Hilton Head is a partner for the Red Cedar rain garden and provided the garden design below:

Rain Gardens in The Island Packet

The Island Packet daily newspaper ran a feature story on April 4 about the Leadership Class of 2010's Honey Horn Rain Garden project.

You can view the story here:

http://www.islandpacket.com/2010/04/04/1194044/eco-friendly-garden-follows-the.html

Honey Horn rain garden comes to life

The Leadership Hilton Head-Bluffton Class of 2010 planted a demonstration rain garden at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn Plantation on March 20, 2010. The planting included a public workshop on rain gardens given by David Joyner of the Clemson University Extension Service, and by Rick Sotiropoulos of Ocean Woods Landscaping. The Leadership Class teamed up with the Coastal Discovery Museum and community partners Ocean Woods Landscaping, Hilton Head Public Service District (PSD), and LowCountry Rain Barrel to make the rain garden a reality. Michael Marks, President & CEO of Coastal Discovery Museum, Russ Charek of LowCountry Rain Barrel, and Mitch Thoreson of the Leadership Class each made remarks prior to the workshop. Attendees at the workshop included: Clemson Master Gardeners from both southern and northern Beaufort County; Joe Short, Ocean Woods Landscaping owner and an alumnus of the Leadership program; and Bob Manne, Hilton Head PSD Commission Chairman. The Leadership Class of 2010 extends its sincerest thanks to all of our partners who helped bring the Honey Horn rain garden to life! The photos below show the rain garden, which is located off the Supervisor's House next to the Discovery House, before, during, and after planting.

The rain garden site before planting.

Clemson Extension Agent David Joyner leads a public workshop on rain gardens prior to planting.

More than 50 people attended the rain garden workshop and had the chance to ask questions about planting their own rain gardens.

The Leadership Class and friends plant the rain garden.

The rain garden a day after planting. This photo shows the 80-gallon rain barrel that will be used to retain and direct water into the rain garden.

The Leadership Class and friends following the planting.

Leadership Class, Clemson expert present rain garden workshop, March 20

This rendering of the Honey Horn rain garden was prepared by Ocean Woods Landscaping.

The Leadership Hilton Head-Bluffton Class of 2010 will present rain garden expert David Joyner for a free workshop on planting rain gardens, at 10 a.m., Saturday, March 20, at the Coastal Discovery Museum at Honey Horn Plantation on Hilton Head Island. Joyner, of the Clemson University Extension System, and the Leadership Class will plant a rain garden on site at the Coastal Discovery Museum and attendees can learn how to plant their own rain gardens. Ocean Woods Landscaping, Hilton Head Public Service District (PSD), and LowCountry Rain Barrel have teamed up to sponsor the rain garden planting.

The Leadership Class is building rain gardens on Hilton Head Island and in Bluffton as part of its class project, Rain Gardens: A Beautiful Solution to Water Pollution. Rain gardens are landscaped depressions, channels, or stormwater runoff containment areas that filter pollutants from stormwater.

The Leadership Class is interested in partnering with residents and local businesses and organizations to foster the proliferation of rain gardens in our community. If you or your group is interested in creating a rain garden or sponsoring a rain garden event in our area, please contact Leadership Class member Pete Nardi at (843) 681-0525 or email leadershipclass2010@yahoo.com.

The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce began its Leadership program in 1985. Its mission is to cultivate leadership resources within the community by giving participants the opportunity to study and experience the Hilton Head Island, Bluffton, Okatie and Daufuskie Island communities—their history, government, economy, human services and culture.

Rain Gardens at the 25th Annual Home & Garden Show

Leadership Class 2010 and Hilton Head Area Home Builders Association member Fran McKinney spearheaded the Rain Garden project's presence at the 25th Annual Home & Garden Show at The Mall at Shelter Cove, March 5-7. The Home Builders Association generously provided a seminar time for the Rain Garden project on Saturday, March 6, and Chris Burdeshaw, Island Horticulturalist, Callawassie Island, led the presentation.

The Leadership Class extends its thanks to Chris, Fran, and the Home Builders Association for providing this excellent opportunity to share the Rain Garden story with the numerous attendees of the Home & Garden Show.

S.C. DNR discusses rain gardens

The South Carolina Department of Natural Resources' ACE (Ashepoo-Combahee-Edisto) Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve provides a wealth of information on rain gardens on its website.

Click here: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/NERR/traininggarden.html to learn more.

Rain Gardens and the Leadership Class of 2010 at the 2010 Business Expo

Leadership Class of 2010 member Alan Arseneau of Bishop Eye Associates, center, discusses the Leadership program and the 2010 Class project, Rain Gardens: A Beautiful Solution to Water Pollution, with attendees at the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce's Business Expo, Feb. 18, 2010, at the Westin Resort Hilton Head Island.

Class members at the 2010 Business Expo staffed a booth that was generously provided by the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber. Class member Sean Congleton of Sign D'Sign provided signage for the booth, while class member Steve Sugg of Omega Graphics Direct provided project brochures and business cards.

The Hilton Head/ Bluffton Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class of 2010 is conducting a rain garden and rain barrel project this spring. Gardens are to be built throughout March and April at four locations, The Coastal Discovery Museum, The Promenade in Bluffton, Red Cedar Elementary School and Hilton Head Montessori School.

Our vision is to educate our community and our children about one way we can reduce water pollution in our area in an effort to protect our waterways. We will be building the first two rain gardens as “prototypes” and then helping the children at the schools create the second two gardens using our “tool kit”. We will also be presenting a seminar and exhibit at the Home Builder’s Show on Hilton Head this spring. Our project information will be distributed to local nurseries and to the schools as well as being displayed on a website through the Chamber of Commerce. We are asking for help to fund our project.

$ 1,500 – Green Sponsor - Full sponsor of one of the rain garden sites. Sponsors name/ logo to appear on the garden’s signage, project materials and website. Opportunity to cut the ribbon at garden’s dedication/“ribbon-cutting” ceremony.

$1,000 – Gold Sponsor – Sponsorship of planting materials, barrel, signage and education materials. Name to appear on project materials for distribution and website. Public recognition at garden’s dedication/ ribbon-cutting.

$250 - $500 – Silver Sponsor – Sponsorship of planting materials, barrel, signage and education materials. Name to appear on project materials for distribution and website.

$50 - $100 – Bronze Sponsor - Sponsorship of planting materials, barrel, signage and education materials. Name to appear on website.

In Kind Sponsor - Sponsorship of planting materials, barrel, signage and education materials. Name to appear on website.

If you are able to make a donation, have questions about the project, or are interested in coordinating additional rain garden projects in the lowcountry please contact Trisha Greathouse at 843-301-4859 or Jennifer Stupica at 843-301-1753. We can also be reached at leadershipclass2010@yahoo.com. Donations can be made out to Leadership Hilton Head/Bluffton (a 501c3 organization). Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Getting Your Rain Garden Started

The information below was compiled by the Clemson University Extension Service to help you plan your own rain garden.

So, what’s a rain garden?

• Appealing landscape ideas for homeowners and Property Owners Associations.
• Allows collection of stormwater and infiltration.
• Plants and microbes do the work of pollutant removal.
• Can be attractor for wildlife such as birds and butterflies.
• A natural way to irrigate.

Where do we put the rain garden?

• Between rainfall runoff “source” and “destination”.
• We want to intercept the water before it reaches surface waters or low spots!
• Gutters and downspouts help direct rooftop runoff flow.
• Driveway and sidewalk edges can also make good locations.
• It’s important to watch how water flows during a storm event!!!
• Install your rain garden more than 10 ft. from building foundation, and more than 25 ft. from a septic system drainfield.
• Avoid shallow water tables (less than 18 in. deep).
• Away from utility lines.
• Ensure no buried cables or pipes in the excavation area.
• In full to partial sun, if possible.

What size should the rain garden be?

• Determine the area of impervious runoff source (rooftops + sidewalks + driveway areas).
• Rule of thumb: estimate the size of your rain garden based on soil types:
Sandy soil (well-drained) = 20% of impervious area.
Loamy soil (poorly-drained) = 20-60% of impervious area.
• May be limited by the space you have, but smaller is easier!!
• The excavated area should be 6-8” deep.
• The area should be typically 8-10 ft. wide in the direction of runoff flow.
• Try using a kidney bean or half moon-shaped layout with the inner curve of the area facing the runoff source!!

How do I know if it’s in a good spot?

The ability of rain water to drain is important for your rain garden location:
• A simple “perk” (percolation) test can help you to decide:
1. Dig a hole about 6 inches deep and wide
2. Fill the hole to the top with water
3. Check the hole 24 hours later – if the water is gone, you have an ideal rain garden location, otherwise, consider a backyard wetland!!

What kinds of plants should I use?

• Hearty species with a range of drought and wet condition tolerance.
• Options include small trees, shrubs, perennials, and grasses.
• Please use native species!!
• Plants that attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
• A plant list is available – contact the Beaufort County Clemson Extension office.

How much will my rain garden cost?

• For an 8 x 20 ft. garden:
• Plants = $200 (retail; cheaper if you use wholesale or transplanted).
• Soil mix and mulch = $200 (retail; cheaper if you use bulk or fill).
• Labor = free (don’t forget to use your friends).
• Total = $400 (~ $2.50 per sq. ft.)
• Protecting water quality = PRICELESS!!

Please visit the websites below for a wealth of information on smart Lowcountry landscaping and to learn the things all property owners can do to protect water quality and our delicate Lowcountry environment:

www.clemson.edu/cyn Clemson’s Carolina Yards and Neighborhoods program has practical and comprehensive information on how to irrigate and landscape responsibly.
http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic Clemson’s Home and Garden Information Center is the resource for all of your horticulture and landscaping questions.
www.clemson.edu/extension This website is the home base for Clemson’s statewide Extension Service system.
www.clemson.edu/beaufort Beaufort County’s Clemson Extension Service office can be found at this website. Or contact their office at (843) 470-3655.

Rain Gardens: A Beautiful Solution to Water Pollution

A rain garden is an attractive landscape feature that can easily be installed to manage stormwater runoff and protect the quality of our rivers, streams, lakes and oceans. A rain garden typically receives runoff water from roofs and other impervious (hard) surfaces, such as driveways and sidewalks. They act as a natural filtration system to keep contaminants out of our waterways. The rain garden holds water in the landscape so that it can drain into the ground and be taken up by plants, instead of flowing into a street and down a storm drain or drainage ditch. They also are a great way to conserve irrigation water.

The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Leadership Class of 2010 wants to foster the installation of rain gardens throughout our community as a way to protect our delicate Lowcountry ecology, and to promote the conservation of our precious water resources.

If you have questions about the rain garden initiative, please email us at: leadershipclass2010@yahoo.com.