The Rain Garden Demonstration Garden was created in an existing detention pond at the UF/IFAS Extension Bay County office in Panama City in January of 2021. This project was funded by the Florida-Friendly Landscaping™(FFL) Mini-Grant supported by Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

Although the existing detention pond was functioning as a catch basin it was unsightly and difficult to maintain during the rainy season as flooding prevented regular mowing.

The purpose of transitioning this area into a rain garden is to create a demonstration of Florida-Friendly Landscaping Principles: Right Plant/Right Place, Gardening for Wildlife, Stormwater Management, and Protection of Water Resources.

Two Master Gardener Volunteers worked with the Horticulture Agent to create a design for the rain garden. The design incorporates native trees, shrubs, ornamental grasses, and perennials that can tolerate alternating wet and dry soil conditions. The plan also includes a dry creek bed and mulch around newly planted shrubs and trees.

As of September 2022, Phase I has been installed and modifications are in progress. As with many landscape projects, some plants have thrived while others have not. We are documenting successes and failures so we can make good recommendations in the future!

Plants highlighted on this page have survived since 2021. We will add more as we continue to build this garden.