Hi Anna! That seems like a great spot for a rain garden. Does that drain in the driveway outlet around where you would want to put the rain garden? I would recommend putting the rain garden close to your driveway so that you don't have to mow or fight grass around one side. You can put a foot or so of wild strawberry between the driveway and the start of where your rain garden will drop down so that you don't have a deep area right next to the asphalt. I look forward to seeing what plants you choose!

The drain does go to the proposed site.

I measured the driveway, it looks like an area of 1,676 sq ft. I haven't done the percolation test yet, but at 20% to get the rain garden size, I'm looking at 335 sq ft! That's twice as big as the car parking space that was mentioned. I do have the space to do it, but is it too big? I wanted to include water from the garage roof downspout too, but now I'm nervous!

Anna, you can make the rain garden smaller than 20%. I've found that over time, the rain gardens infiltrate water much quicker than we expected. Also, as long as the water is overflowing to a safe spot, you will be improving what you already have. Make the garden a size that is manageable for you! I would add the water from your garage roof downspout after the first year, once the plants are established.

Great, that sounds good to me! I like the idea of adding the downspout next year too. Thanks!

This is the current layout - on left there are some shade lovers - coral bells and bleeding heart. On the right a not-so-nice looking pine tree and a bed of mainly Shasta Daisies and Black Eyed Susan.

This rectangle is 23' x 14' = 322 sq ft, which is close to the desired size of 335 sq ft

Option A for rain garden layout, including a short stepping stone path close to the garage.

Option B for rain garden shape, including longer path.

I think I prefer A, but wanted more than one option.

Both options are great! Wow, what a nice design. Try thinking about it from a side view - would the bump out in option A be pleasing to the eye? I like the pathways through them.

Ah, yes. I checked out the view from the side, this is a photo from our deck. I think it'll look OK. Microsoft Paint is not my medium, but you get the idea!

Wow! Anna, this is really nicely put together! I love how you show the side view on the photograph- it helps to envision it. Your plant selection all looks great, I love the mix of shrubs, flowers and sedges. I think it is going to look beautiful! In fact, I know it will because you included pictures for each season! Will you have a berm? If your ground is so flat that you won't need one, you will need to find a place to put all that dirt you'll dig out. -Catie

OK, so finally getting round to updating what actually happened! First, I made some alterations to the plan based on the feedback from class and input from my husband (he insisted that there still be a grass path so he can drive the mower from the back to the front - oh, practicality). So, took a few feet from the right hand side, altered the path a little bit and added a few new plants.

New additions were Canada Anemone and Marsh Marigold. Along with a swamp buttercup, because my boys liked it a lot when we went to the Farmer's market, and I'm a push over (also thought it might work).

Enlisted these cute helpers to remove a little bit of the driveway.