TUNKHANNOCK — The Dietrich Theater solved a water run-off problem by creating a rain garden at the back of the theater and is now ready to help others do the same.
Laura Anderson, environmental coordinator at the Wyoming County Conservation District, and Ed Zygmunt, from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, will present a Rain Garden “How To” program at 11 a.m. Saturday, June 3 at the Dietrich. Following the free presentation, attendees will have the opportunity to visit the rain garden at the Dietrich, sponsored by the Williams Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project. A dedication and ribbon cutting will follow the presentation.
The water run-off from the roof of the Dietrich used to present a problem in the parking lot behind the theater, resulting in puddles and pools of water, making for an unsightly and messy situation. Leaving the theater after a hiking presentation last year, Zygmunt realized this was a perfect site for a rain garden. Erica Rogler, executive director, enthusiastically embraced Zygmunt’s proposal to install a rain garden and the Williams Atlantic Sunrise Pipeline Project agreed to sponsor it as an environmentally sound project.
The Dietrich Theater rain garden is unique in that it has at least one native plant with a historical place in Tunkhannock: witch hazel. There used to be a witch hazel plant in Tunkhannock.
A new addition to the garden will soon be planted to help the monarch butterfly population. Milkweed plants will soon be added to the other native plants that just lived through their first winter in the garden.
All who attend the Rain Garden “How To” will learn how to create a rain garden, what plants will thrive in one, and what plants will attract insect and bird pollinators.
For information about the presentation, call 570-996-1500.