Auburn’s Soos Creek Botanical Gardens and Auburn Mountainview High School will host a free rain garden workshop May 24.

The workshop runs from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the school, 28900 124th Ave. SE (use parking lot entrance off 132nd Avenue Southeast).

Participants at workshop will learn how to create their own rain gardens to help protect Puget Sound. Rain gardens function like native forests to help slow down, soak up and filter polluted water from downspouts, driveways and sidewalks.

Marilyn Jacobs, of Raindog Designs, of Gig Harbor, is the guest speaker.

Concerns over polluted runoff and its effect on wildlife habitat promoted the “12,000 Raingardens in Puget Sound” project. A grant written by Washington State University Extension and Stewardship Partners benefits local residents in the form of free informational workshops. Local partners include Soos Creek Botanical Gardens and Mountainview High School.

The goal of the workshops held throughout the Puget Sound area is to create 12,000 rain gardens in the area.

To join the campaign or to obtain more information, visit www.12000RainGardens.org.