Chairman: Charles W. Sawicki, Village of Suffern
First Vice Chairman: Alan Englander, Village of Upper Nyack
Second Vice Chairman: Pat Brady, Town of Haverstraw
Participating Members: Towns: Clarkstown • Haverstraw • Orangetown • Ramapo • Stony Point
Villages: Airmont • Chestnut Ridge • Grandview on the Hudson • Haverstraw • Hillburn • Kaser •
Montebello • New Hempstead • New Square • Nyack • Piermont • Pomona • Sloatsburg • South Nyack •
Spring Valley • Suffern • Upper Nyack • West Haverstraw • Wesley Hills
September 10, 2015
Landscaping the Rain Garden
The September show introduced the actual plant material used in a rain garden. Previous
shows included the benefits of a rain garden along with locations in the yard and construction.
However the choice of plant material had never been discussed. Being a plant material show, it
was appropriate for this show to be the start of the monthly book give-away by answering the
question, “Name one effect of storm either negatively or positively”. The past weather for
August was reviewed and a drought warning was issued by the show. There were higher than
normal temperature with a deficit of rainfall by 2.09 inches. Rainfall after drought conditions
contains an increased amount of suspended solids (SS) in the run-off and makes the rain garden
relevant for removal of SS.
The preferred type of plant material used is native flood plain plants that are naturally
evolved for the regime of inundation from flooding and periods of drought. These plants produce
deep root systems that break up the ground making the soil friable and permeable for ground
water recharge. In addition, due to the deep root systems they are able to sustain periods of
drought. The list of preferred plants is divided into both herbaceous and woody plants. It was
decided to discuss the woody plants which are trees and shrubs for this show. Given with this
was a description of the plant along with the wild life benefits.
The plants discussed follow:
Trees and Shrubs
Amelanchier canadensis
Food (fruit): ruffed grouse; hairy, down, & red-headed
woodpeckers; tufted titmouse, re-winged blackbird, eastern
bluebird, cedar waxwing, mourning dove, common flicker,
eastern phoebe, blue jay, brown thrasher, red-eyed vireo,
American redstart, northern oriole, scarlet tanager, cardinal,
rose-breasted grosbeak, northern junco, song sparrow - Cover
& Nesting
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for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with
Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities
Aronia arbutifolia
'Brillantissima'
Food (fruit): bobwhite, brown thrasher, cedar waxwing,
eastern meadowlark, fur & game animals, small & hoofed
mammals
Aronia melanocarpa
Food (fruit): black-capped chickadee, bobwhite, gray catbird,
brown thrasher, cedar waxwing, eastern meadowlark, large &
small mammals (buds, etc.): ruffed grouse, hoofed browsers
Cephalanthus occidentalis
Food (nutlet): ducks, mallard, widgeon, shoveler, wood, &
teals (twigs, foliage): deer (nectar):ruby-throated
hummingbird - Nesting: Virginia rail, red-winged black-bird
- Attracts: muskrat, beaver
Clethra alnifolia
Food & Cover: songbirds, shorebirds, waterfowl, upland
gamebirds, small mammals
Comptonia peregrina
Provides Cover & Nesting
Cornus sericea
Food: eastern kingbird, brown thrasher, ring-necked
pheasant, hoofed browsers, wild turkey, beaver, ruffed &
sharp-tailed grouse, bobwhite, cottontail rabbit, snowshoe
hare, woodchuck, raccoon, moose - Cover & Nesting:
American goldfinch
Ilex verticillata 'Winter Red'
Food (berries, other): mockingbird, gray catbird, brown
thrasher, hermit thrush, black duck, bobwhite, common
flicker, American crow, American robin, cedar waxwing,
cottontail rabbit, raccoon, white-footed mouse, squirrel,
ruffed grouse, ring-necked pheasant, eastern bluebird, deer,
Food, Cover & Nesting: veery, red-winged blackbird
Ilex verticillata 'Southern
Gentleman'
Cover & Nesting: veery, red-winged blackbird
Kalmia latifolia
Rhododendron
periclymenoides
Food: upland gamebirds, songbirds, small mammals, deer
Rhododendron viscosum
Food: waterfowl, marshbirds, small mammals, deer
Salix discolor
Food (fruit, buds, flowers): numerous birds, waterfowl,
beaver, deer, rabbit, porcupine, moose, muskrat, & other
small game - Cover & Nesting: American crow, northern
oriole, scarlet tanager, rose-breasted grosbeak
Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized
for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with
Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities
Sambucus canadensis
Food (fruit) &/or Cover birds too numerous to list including
red-belled & red-headed woodpeckers, wild turkey, ringnecked pheasant - Food, Cover & Nesting: alder flycatcher,
mocking-bird, gray catbird, hoofed browsers
Spiraea latifolia
Provides Cover & Nesting
Viburnum dentatum
Food (fruit): common flicker, eastern phoebe, brown
thrasher, American robin, eastern bluebird, red & white eyed
vireos, rose-breasted grosbeak, pileated woodpecker, small
mammals - Fruit available all winter - provides nesting &
cover
Cornell Cooperative Extension is an employer and educator recognized
for valuing AA/EEO, Protected Veterans, and Individuals with
Disabilities and provides equal program and employment opportunities