They're a favorite 4th of July family destination -- Wisconsin's 15,000 lakes. Now, one group is hoping to spread the word about a garden grown specifically to keep our lakes clean -- and not green.

It's called a buffer garden and there's a new one on the shores of Tainter lake in Dunn County, a lake that consistently goes green with algae.

"I grew up here. It's a phenomenon that's been happening here a long time. It's going to take a great effort to get it out, " says Bill Olson with the Lake Improvement Association.

Last year, the members of the Tainter/Menomin Lake Improvement Association tossed barley bales into the lakes in an attempt to combat bacteria from phosphorus and nitrate. This year, they're turning to buffer gardens, made in part with some of that water soaked barley and lots of mulch, as well as lots of help from a UW-Stout biology class.

"It helps people if they want to fertilize their lawns and want to have that beautiful lawn. If they have one of these between the beach and the lawn, it will stop that pollution from getting into the lake," says UW-Stout Instructor Scott McGovern.

Here's how a buffer garden works: The mulch slows down the water and absorbs it. Then the plants can suck the nutrients out of it. Essentially by the time it gets to the lake, it should be filtered.

"This is an example of what all shorelines should be aiming for -- a nutrient sink," Olson says.

"I love the quietness. I love the water. It's just beautiful," says Polly Englehorn.

Englehorn put a rain garden in her lakefront lawn last summer. It's similar to a buffer garden but sits in the lowest part of her lawn..

"I noticed its soggy here because it rained," she says. "Our water has to be protected. The more things we do to keep the run-off and contaminants out of the water the better it is."

"I hope people that have bare land right up to the lake would think about doing this," Olson agrees.

Anyone who wants to check out the the group's buffer garden display can see it at the Lamb's Creek boat landing. That's just across the channel from Jake's Supper Club.

The group estimates it costs $3 to $5 per square foot to plant a buffer garden. Thanks to donations and volunteers, the group only spent $78 for the display garden. It's worth $4000 to $5000.