The environmental concerns that come with increased impervious ground cover (i.e., pavement, asphalt and roof-covered areas) can be greatly reduced if storm water runoff is intercepted before it reaches the sewer. Rain gardens, the hottest new trend in landscaping, look like regular perennial gardens but are much more. During a storm, a rain garden fills with water, which slowly filters into the ground rather than running into storm sewers. Rain gardens protect the local waterways while beautifying the yard and providing a habitat for wildlife.

Mike Haberland, Environmental and Resource Management agent with the Rutgers Cooperative Extension of Burlington and Camden Counties, will demonstrate how to create rain gardens, from 6:30 to 8 p.m., May 31, in the Cherry Hill Public Library Multicultural Room. The presentation will include a tour of the Demonstration Rain Garden at the Cherry Hill Public Library (CHPL). Including CHPL, more than 50 demonstration rain gardens have been installed throughout New Jersey.

Location: 1100 Kings Hwy. N., Cherry Hill. Participants should pre-register at SustainableCherryHill.org. For more information, call 609-238-3449 or email [email protected].