Abstract Master Gardeners of Hamilton County designed and built a “rain garden” in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Rain gardens allow water to be held by plant roots rather than becoming polluted runoff. Many native plants were used since they are well adapted to the Chattanooga area. It is also called a butterfly/hummingbird garden since so many flowering plants are used. The garden was built on City of Chattanooga property located between the two main buildings of The Tennessee Aquarium. This is a very visible site for a demonstration rain garden. Master Gardeners worked with city officials for approval. They solicited all the building materials at no cost to the city. Over fifty Master Gardeners from 12 states shared in the initial planting event during the Southern Regional Master Gardener Conference. The garden is a training ground for new Master Gardener interns. There are several work days and training sessions in spring, summer, and fall. A trellis was added in 2007. A local artist donated a sculpture. A sign which reads “Another Master Gardener Project” is visible. Plant labels are presently being made. Thousands of people pass the garden on their way to visit other attractions along the Chattanooga waterfront. Many people stop and exclaim “What a beautiful area”. We inform them that it is also a “rain garden”. Education activities in the garden are provided for school groups. Master Gardeners at the Southern Region Conference who helped build garden Garden in November 2007 with new trellis. The Tennessee Aquarium is in the background. Master Gardeners Build a Rain Garden in Chattanooga Tom Stebbins Extension Agent University of Tennessee Hamilton County Chattanooga, TN 37416 ? Garden marked out, ready to plant. Drain in the center. . Master Gardeners tending to the garden View of garden from top of the hill, at the Tennessee Aquarium View towards the Tennessee River in Chattanooga, TN Butterfly/Hummingbird/Rain Garden List Impact This new area in downtown Chattanooga is a functional “rain garden” in a visible location. The site is a training site for continuing Master Gardener classes. It is used as a botanical and environmental demonstration site for the community Master Gardener botanical and environmental training area. Common Name Latin Name Common Name Latin Name Columbine Aquilegia spp. Lantana Lantana spp Butterfly Weed Asclepias tuberosa Sunflower Helianthus spp. Asters Aster spp Coral Honeysuckle Lonicera sempervirens Russian Sage Perovskia spp. Sun Drops Oenothera pilosella Speedwell Veronica spp. Passion Vine Passiflora spp. Indian Pink Spigelia spp. Cardinal Flower Lobelia cardinalis Ironweed Vernonia spp. Switch Grass Panicum virgatum Astilbe Astilbe spp. Christmas Fern Polystichum spp. Pentas(red) Pentas spp. Lady Fern Athyrium felix-femina Goldenrod Solidago rigida Cinnamon Fern Osmunda cinnamomea Globe Thistle Cirsium spp. Maiden Hair Fern Adiantum pedatum Lavender Lavandula spp. Wild Geranium Geranium maculatum Coreopsis Coreopsis spp. Spice Bush Lindera benzoin Virginia Bluebells Mertensia virginica Sweet William Dianthus barbatus Pineapple Sage Salvia elegans Great Blue Lobelia Lobelia siphilitica Blanket Flower Gaillardia pulchella Oakleaf Hydrangea Hydrangea quercifolia Sedum Sedum spp. Fire Pink Silene virginica Bee Balm Monarda didyma Native Azalea Rhododendron spp. Joe Pye Weed Eupatorium spp. Hearts-a-bustin Euonymus americanus Blue-eyed Mary Omphalodes verna Blue Phlox Phlox paniculata Verbena Verbena spp. Saint-John’s Wort Hypericum perforatum Blue Phlox Phlox spp. Beauty Berry Callicarpa spp. Black-eyed Susan Rudbeckia hirta Viburnum Viburnum acerifolium Bird’s Foot Violet Viola pedata Swamp Milkweed Asclepias incarnata Bronze Fennel Foeniculum vulgare Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans Dill Anethum spp. Red Buckeye Aesculus spp. Coneflower Echinacea spp.