Final Project: Cacciotti Residence Rain Garden LA 3160 - Site Engineering 12/17/09 Leigh McGonagle

Site Concept/Inspirations:
This site is a balance of nature and man - the influence of one on the other. I have tired to naturalize the site- keeping the main stream where it is and building small pockets along it as an overflow spot in a large storm event as well as an area that can be a host to a beautiful array of plants and flowers. Some inspirations came from other rain gardens, a natural feel is inspired by the use of boulders and cobbles through the main water-way. An integral part of my thought process was how to connect the house to this rain garden - so I suggest a dry-creek which allows for a similar vocabulary of rocks and boulders, softened by plantings but also an element which has its own identity and purpose in the site. The plants are primarily native and hardy to the are, deer-hardy and mostly a mixture of cool greens and blues with some hotter reds andyellows in the summmertime.

Left: Collage of rocks and boulders that can be used to create a more natural feel on the site. The old rail-way ties could be updated with a rock facade (middle row, far left) and replace the ties coming in and out under the bridge with rock walls. The main channel of the creek would be lined with cobbles to protect the area from erosion. Also there is room to help manage the drainage of the bridge using a simple stone waterfall (bottom row, middle) which helps to direct the water off the bridge and into the stream. As part of the connection between the house and stream - a dry creek (bottom right corner) could be installed to continue the sites vocabulary. Bottom Left: Emphasis neded on connecting the house and the stream Bottom Right: Concept of main channel and nearby pools to hold water during large storm events.

Above: Proposed dry creek concept Left Top: Example of a roadside rain garden, larger groups of plantings are easier to maintain and still beautiful in the landscape. Left Bottom: A slope with natural boulders mixed with wet-tolerant plants Below Top: Sketch of proposed channel with adjacent overflow area, to fill with plants Below Bottom: Section of proposed channel

Dry Creek Bed, cobble lined, some mixed woodland plants

Breaks in retaining wall to allow exess water from bridge to flow into the stream

Replace railroad tie retaining wall with natural boulders along north bank

Grade some of the countours closer to the stream to create a more dramatic effect Mixed vegetation in stream, along edges and mixed in between boulders to create a naturalistic feel

Entrance beds to introduce plant material as well as create a welcoming entrance

Woodland Plants Wetland Plants Sun Perennials

Plant Zones: The planting zones are based on which plants will best survive in each type of location. The wetland plants will thrive in very moist areas such as the creek-bottom in the cobble stones. The woodland plants are adapted to part sun and varying moisture conditions. The sun perennial group is more suited to ornamental grasses and flowers that will create interest all seasons. The use of shrubs might be good to add structure winter interest. There are some splashes of color - reds and yellows to heat up all the cool blues and greens in the site. Wetland Plants: Ajuga Sedges Juncus Iris Salix Hakuro Nashiki Silky Dogwood Joe Pye-Weed

Woodland Plants: Ferns Ninebark Astillbe Virginia Blue-bells Geranium Bevans St. Johns Wort Foamflower Spiraea

Sun Perennial Plants: Bottlebrush Grass Indian Grass Little Blue-stem Purple Coneflower Blazing Star Liatris Panicum Coreopsis Oxey Sunflower Astillbe Black-Eyed Susan