EVERETT — A garden personality famous for ooh-la-la-ing his way through fabulous landscapes plans to broadcast his show live from Everett back yards this Saturday.
Gardening guru Ciscoe Morris will do his show, “Gardening with Ciscoe,” live from north Everett.
He’s helping draw attent
ion to a pilot program that will have volunteers planting seven rain gardens in homes along Oakes and Lombard avenues.
Everyone is invited to attend the event, which starts at 10 a.m. at the intersection of Lombard Avenue and 14th Street.
Rain gardens are planted depressions in the ground that slow down and absorb rainwater in urban settings.
They also help reduce the largest source of pollution — runoff — by capturing and filtering dirty water.
The goal is to install 12,000 rain gardens throughout the Puget Sound area during the next four years.
The city is sponsoring this rain garden pilot project to help reduce flooding and demonstrate how average homeowners can use innovative landscaping to help reduce flooding and water pollution flowing into Puget Sound.
Stormwater runoff is a significant concern in north Everett since the older part of the city uses a combined sewer and stormwater system.
A freak deluge last year overwhelmed the system, sending raw sewage and rainwater burbling into basements. It cost the city hundreds of thousands of dollars in claims to homeowners.
At that time, people living in the north end of town suggested widespread rain gardens might be one way to deal with runoff.
Also involved are the Snohomish Conservation District, Washington State University Snohomish County Extension and Stewardship Partners, a Seattle-based non-profit organization.
Reporter Debra Smith: 425-339-3197 or dsmith@heraldnet.com.
Listen to Ciscoe
Catch Ciscoe Morris’s broadcast from Everett on KIRO (97.3 FM) at 10 a.m. Saturday.
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