2025 PARC Rain Garden Events

Friends of the Rouge installed 23,000 sq ft of native gardens around the Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex (PARC) to improve community water quality. Called rain gardens, these working gardens filter pollutants from rainwater to keep them out of our Rouge River Watershed.

We can‘t maintain these beautiful native gardens without you, our wonderful community volunteers, and we are so excited to start another season with you! By volunteering to maintain these beautiful native gardens, you make a difference in your Rouge community! Check out the fun events we have planned on our garden work days below.

Questions or need accommodations? Email Susan Shell.

The Plymouth Arts and Recreation Complex (PARC) is located at 650 Church St. For garden workdays, we will meet in the large parking lot off of Adams near the tennis courts.

Picnic in the PARC – Sat. May 24th, 9am-12pm

Spend a spring morning in the gardens with your Friends, followed by a potluck picnic and fun games! We’ll work together cleaning up our native plants to some great music and conversation, and end the morning with a picnic next to the garden! Learn about all the native plants in our gardens and seek out the pollinators that visit them! Look forward to fresh air, good company, games, music, and more! It will be a wonderful way to start your weekend!

Kinder-GARDEN – Sat. June 21st, 10am-1pm

New to all things gardening? Come out for Gardening 101! We’ll go on a weed hunt, discover native flowers, and learn about pollinators! We’ll give some great gardening tips, demonstrate proper weeding technique, talk about why native plants are important, and learn about the wonderful ecosystems we can create by planting natives! All ages and gardening experience are welcome!

Gals in the Garden – Sat. July 19th, 9am-12pm

Enjoy a morning with the ladies! We’ll start out getting some fresh air in the garden then make bouquets from your favorite flowers in our gardens to take home with you! Enjoy some fresh morning air, great conversation, and learn about native plants!

Picnic in the PARC – Sat. August 16th, 9am-12pm

Spend a spring morning in the gardens with your Friends, followed by a potluck picnic and fun games together! We’ll work together cleaning up our native plants to some great music and conversation, and end the morning with a picnic next to the garden! Learn about all the native plants in our gardens and seek out the pollinators that visit them! Look forward to fresh air, good company, games, music, and more! It will be a wonderful way to start your weekend!

Gals in the Garden – Sat. September 20th, 9am-12pm

Enjoy a fall morning with the ladies! We’ll start out getting some fresh air in the garden then make bouquets from your favorite flowers in our gardens to take home with you! Enjoy some fresh morning air, great conversation, and learn about native plants!

Spooky Seed Saving – Sat. October 18th, 10am-1pm

Celebrate the changing of the seasons as we partake in eerie elixirs and spine-chilling sweets. After working in the garden, you’ll learn how to collect seeds from our native plants and get some to take home with you! We are excited to wrap up our 2025 season with a festive morning in the garden!