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Saturday, September 6 was a perfect late summer day, tailor made made for planting, and crowds of volunteers at both Chisago City and Center City made good use of the day.

Pictured, a rain garden layout had been roughed in by Great River Greening, a non-profit organization working on water quality projects, and volunteers planted rainscape stock in the prepared terrain.

Meanwhile, a trio of kids took a break and lavished attention on a worm worthy of their attention.

The Great River Greening-designed rain garden is on North Avenue in the Water Tower Park area. It will trap and filter stormwater that empties into Walmark Lake. In a rain garden design plants that like to be dry are planted atop the berms and water-loving plants are placed in rain-catching swales.

Approximately 50 people (large photo) helped out in Chisago City.

In Center City volunteers also planted trees and shrubs in the Highway 8 corridor Saturday, to complete the highway reconstruction project done through Center City. Snow fencing is supposed to be put up later so snowmobilers can identify areas where the young plants are and avoid damaging them.

Both cities are fortunate to have so many community-minded volunteers who gave up part of their weekend to lend a hand.

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