Using Rain Gardens to Keep Waterways Pollution-Free

It is the combination of hardy plants and soft soil that allows rain gardens to work their magic, says David Hymel, who coordinated the Puyallup project for Stewardship Partners, a Seattle nonprofit that is trying to build 12,000 rain gardens in the Puget Sound area. "The whole idea is to have the water be absorbed back into the ground and filtered naturally, the way it used to be when the area was still forest," he says.

For the vibrant plants featured in this garden, click next.