A big storm flooded her driveway.

It also damaged her plants.

So the writer planned a rain garden.

Scientists say we will have more bad weather.

This is partly because of climate change.

A rain garden is a low bed.

People plant it with native plants.

These plants can live in a lot of water.

The garden sits where water flows to it.

The water comes from pipes and driveways.

The plants drink the water.

The soil cleans the water too.

This keeps dirty water out of drains and rivers.

Rain gardens can also stop water from hurting basements.

In dry places, many gardeners now collect rainwater.

A rain garden can be any size.

But it must be 10 feet from a house.

It must not sit over a septic tank.

It must not sit over underground wires.

It must not be near a drinking-water well.

Do not put it on a hill.

Do not put it in a wet spot.

You can dig any shape.

The middle is 6 inches lower than the edge.

Or you can put a small hill around it.

You can lead water in with a pipe.

Rocks in the pipe slow the water down.

Use native plants that like a lot of water.

Some can even live in a wet middle.

Native plants fit the area.

They need less work.

They give homes to bees and birds.

You can mix flowers with grass.

You can add shrubs and small trees.

The Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center has a Plant Finder.

You can search by your area and sun.

Put thirsty plants in the middle.

Water pools there first.

Put other plants on the higher edge.

Water the plants in the first year.

Pull weeds until they grow in.

After that, the writer says, just enjoy it.