There has been so much written about rain gardens and stormwater quality, that it can be hard to keep up with. The best rain gardens are easy to maintain, and are set up so the plants can survivive in dry times. This means irrigating them during the summer months for some amount of time, but the rewards are worth it. With the right plants, rain gardens flourish, treating stormwater that has been contaminated by any number of sources, and provide opportunities for wildlife, as well. Below is a link to a podcsast of a rain garden in Elk Grove, California (near Sacramento) that we just got notice of from the State Water Resources Control Board. Follow the link, and check out the 4-1/2 minute video.
http://www.thankyouocean.org/news/podcasts/