Join us for a fun, hands-on Stormwater Week event where participants can learn all about native gardening and take home plants to install their very own garden. In addition to a number of learning stations, each household will leave with a downspout garden or pollinator garden kit OR register for garden design help from an expert to design your own garden and leave with plants.

In addition, all attendees can visit a variety of learning stations to learn more about stormwater, native gardening and more!

• Rainfall Simulator – a demonstration of what happens when rain falls on different surfaces (lawn, prairie, etc) and learn more about how landuse impacts water quality.
• Soil Science – a demonstration of what happens to soil when it rains and learn how to build your soil health to make it more resistant to erosion.
• Planting & Maintenance Demo and Test area – learn how to plant and care for your garden including maintenance tips, practice using a bulb auger to plant plugs, and informatoin about other tools that can help you prep or care for your garden.
• Native Insect Display – learn more about what insects are in our area from the UW Insect Ambassadors
• Pollinator Identification – explore the “iNaturalist” and “WEEBE” Apps to learn how to indentify the bumblebees and other pollinating insects that visit your garden.
• Pollinator information and Resources – learn what else can you do to protect and care for pollinators.

REGISTRATION

Tickets are required for this event and there are a limited number of each ticket type available (described below). Tickets and garden kits will not be available for purchase on the day of the event. Multiple people from the household can attend but each household is limited to ONE TICKET. Children are welcome but must be supervised by their adults at all time. Due to the hands-on nature, this event may not be a good fit for very young children.

TICKET TYPES

• Downspout Garden Kit ($46) – This ticket grants you entry to the event as well as a pre-made downspout garden plant kit which includes an example planting plan. Each Downspout Garden Kit includes 32 native plants. Two kit options are available: full sun or part sun. (View Kits)
• Pollinator Garden Kit ($23) – This ticket grants you entry to the event as well as a a pre-made pollinator garden plant kit which includes an example planting plan. Each Pollinator Garden Kit includes 16 native plants suitable for medium moisture soil. Two kit options are available: full sun or part sun.  (View Kits)
• Garden Design and Native Plant Kit ($30) –  This ticket grants you entry to the event and includes 20 minutes with a native plant expert that can help you think thorough your garden design and select appropriate plants. Participants will leave with a design for an approximately 5×5 foot garden and 16 native plants (view species list). To make the most of your limited garden design time, you will need to come with a specific site in mind. Participants will receive an email in advance with instructions for what to bring.

**Tickets will go on sale at 12pm on August 26, 2024 – come back to this page to register**

ORGANIZERS

This event is organized by: Dane County Land & Water Resources Department, Wild Ones Madison, Xerces Society, UW Madison Extension, and the Madison Area Municipal Stormwater Partnership.