In April 2009, 70 sixth-grade students from Maury River Middle School planted a very large rain garden for the City of Lexington.  The city had constructed the rain garden to slow the flow of thousands of gallons of storm run-off from nearby roads and parking lots.  This run-off enters a small urban stream named Spring Branch.  Spring Branch flows into Sarah's Run and then Woods Creek.  When it rains hard, these creeks flood.  Woods Creek flows through Lexington and then drains all its water into the Maury.

The rain garden actually consisted of four separate strips of land.  The strips formed a buffer between a busy road and the Rockbridge Farmer's Co-op. In the  right corner of the photo you can also see Maury River Middle School -- it too sends water this way.	As soon as a large truck delivered the plants, the students started placing them in their correct locations.  They used a planting map.  The map was provided by the city arborist who worked with them.	The studens planted bushes in the middle of the rain garden.  The roots of all these bushes will help control flooding by absorbing run-off during storms. They will also help filter, clean, and cool the street water before it enters a nearby stream.
Students worked in shifts throughout the day to accomplish the many tasks.	They even planted several trees in the rain garden.	As the saying goes, many (dirty) hands make light work!