About the Wet Meadow

The Buhr Park Children's Wet Meadow is a group of wet meadow ecosystems in Ann Arbor's Buhr Park. The wet meadows provide a habitat for native plants and animals, an attractive educational site for children, neighbors and other visitors, and an environmental filter for stormwater runoff from the park grounds.

Wet meadows are essentially large rain gardens. They capture water from rain and melting snow. They are full of native plants that use the water to grow. The plants have flowers that are used by butterflies and seeds that are eaten by birds. Usually the ground in the wet meadows is damp and squishy, like a damp sponge.

The concept of Wet Meadow has been germinating since 1992. The original meadow was planted in September, 1997, and the plants have thrived and bloomed ever since. The project has expanded with a second set of three basins, called Wet Meadow II on the west side of the park. More than 150 volunteers helped plant this in June of 2004. The wet meadows are thriving beyond our wildest dreams. Many thanks to the children, parents and others who helped make this possible.

To learn more, please contact Jeannine Palms 734-971-5870

planting the west wet meadow - June 5 2004

More than 180 volunteers gathered on a sunny Saturday to plant the three basins of "Wet Meadow 2" on the west side of Buhr Park.

We used the plants we grew from seed.


Jane told everyone about the process.


Soon everyone was planting.


Children and adults pictched in, using plants grown from seed.


People of all ages helped water the plants.


The three basins have carefully-engineered spillways lines with large stones. Thanks to Chris Mueller for his careful excavation and construction of the spillways.


Cooperation releases abundance.

Wet Meadow II Planting Day

Over 100 volunteers participated in planting on June 5, 2004.