The rain garden is in an area surrounded by sidewalks. Water already drained to the area, so when the town was looking for a site for a rain garden, this area was chosen, says Steve Yates, who is the town's zoning compliance supervisor and coordinates landscaping projects for the town.

A rain garden is a way to treat stormwater, says Jessica Bolin, a stormwater engineer for the town of Apex.

After a rain, the water will collect in the depressed area for up to 12 hours. As the water soaks into the ground, impurities are filtered out.

"Not only is it aesthetically pleasing," Bolin says, "but it's good for the environment. Everything it does is positive."

Having the rain garden on public property gives residents a chance to see for themselves what a rain garden looks like. The town hopes homeowners will see how this rain garden works and how it looks, and will create one on their own property.

Eventually, the town will have a plaque at the garden that will give information and will let visitors know where to find more information. The plantings will also be labeled.

Plantings in the Apex rain garden include:

Liatris, also known as blazing star

Lobelia

Golden creeping Jenny

Sweet flag (Acorus calamus)

Soft stem rush