"And it's just a box of rain
I don't know who put it there
Believe it if you need it
Or leave it if you dare"
(Grateful Dead)
There's a lot more to the Farmington Canal Heritage Trail than the side with the beautiful scenery along the Farmington River. The other side of the trail takes you through the meadows, fields, picnic areas and gardens of Bicentennial Park.
One of the park's gardens caught my eye this morning, and I walked over to get a closer look and read the nearby sign. That's how I learned about the Canton Bicentennial Rain Garden.
It was officially dedicated on June 10, 2023, during a ceremony marking Canton's 200th anniversary, which was observed throughout 2023.
The native plant garden and pathway were funded by a grant from the Canton Greater Together Community Fund and designed by the Cherry Brook Garden Club. It was designed to be a living tribute to the town's bicentennial, blending a nod to Canton's natural beauty, environmental stewardship, historical commemoration, and community spirit.
So, what exactly is a rain garden? They are shallow, landscaped areas designed to capture and filter stormwater runoff, reduce pollution and erosion, and support native plant life and pollinators.
The water collected in a rain garden allows the plants in the garden to naturally filter and absorb the water. Their goal is to reduce the amount of untreated runoff that leaves properties via stormwater pipes and ends up in local streams chock full of nasty things like lawn fertilizers and pesticides, oil, vehicle gas and heavy metals, and viruses and bacteria from animal droppings.
Rain Gardens like the one in Canton catch rainwater before it might be contaminated by those nasties and keeps them out of ponds and streams, like the nearby Farmington River.
Native plants in the garden include some pretty flowers like yellow Rudbeckia, purple, echinacea, and red Winterberry.
A placard at the garden identifies the plants and flowers and offers some educational information on rain gardens. read more