Residents who are interested in environmentally friendly rain gardens can sign up now for Metro Blooms sessions on planning, designing and installing rain gardens.

The workshops cost $10 to $15 and begin in April.

Rain gardens are designed to capture and absorb polluted water from roofs, driveways and yards, reducing runoff and filtering water on site. Most rain gardens look like perennial gardens and feature deep-rooted native plants that thrive in a setting that alternates between wet and dry.

Metro Blooms sessions will teach residents how to design and install a rain garden, choose plants and maintain the garden.

Sessions will be held in Plymouth, St. Louis Park, Golden Valley, Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, Minneapolis, Chanhassen and Vadnais Heights.

For more information on rain gardens, go to www.metroblooms.org/what-is-a-raingarden.php.

To sign up for a class, go to www.metroblooms.org/workshops.php.

Mary Jane Smetanka

@smetan