“Rain Gardens”
Erica Johanson and Jim Powers moved from Trenton to a 24-acre property in the Sourland Mountains. Focusing efforts on three acres around the house, Erica and James collaborated with a local landscape architect to create a rain garden and later, a native meadow.
Erica and Jim have worked fervently to create a home for over one hundred native plant species. Their first project broke ground over 10 years ago when they sought out a way to control rain water absorption back into their rocky sourland soil. Their local landscape architect worked closely with the natural boulders, characteristic to the Sourlands, to assist with the design of the rain garden. Erica’s rain garden has reached its maturity but is still hard at work. New blooms are constantly sprouting, providing home to passing monarchs and various pollinators.
Following the success of the rain garden, Erica and Jim worked with their landscape architect on a quarter-acre native meadow within their deer exclosure. The meadow has now moved strongly into its third year with major growth present. They have plans to expand the project toward the forest where the Emerald Ash Borer has caused numerous ash tree casualties. The property also suffered damage in Hurricane Sandy with large numbers of trees down. Whereas the large exclosure fence has helped deter deer, unfortunately, there is no cost effective preventative against the ash borer. Their reforestation efforts include preemptive planting to replace ash death.
A natural gardener, Erica hosts hundreds of species, restocking each year through the FoHVOS Native Plant Sale. Her genuine enthusiasm for planting is infectious, and, it turns out, the fruits of her labors are on the move— “volunteer” seedlings from plants in her garden have popped up in the driveway, and even along the roadside near her home. In addition, Erica and Jim utilize rain barrels to collect scarce water, make their own mulch and actively compost.