Read to Seed – A Labor of Love
June 8, 2021
Did you know that there are now three gardens at Myers Park Library? Branch volunteers have lovingly maintained the gardens for over a decade and their support inspired their restoration and expansion.
The original garden, known as the McKnight Reading Garden was created after the branch renovation in 2008. It was named in memory of library benefactor Mrs. Gayle McKnight and was designed by (then) student Murray Corbett, a project which earned her the Girl Scout Gold Award.
In 2015, Myers Park Library Services Specialist, Laura Cavette, and volunteer, Mary Lee created the branch's Children’s Garden.
While the Library was in Level I of the re-opening plan during the COVID-19 closure, Library staff were sitting outside greeting customers. As they looked around, they thought of expanding the existing garden space to allow for more seating to read, paint, sketch and enjoy nature.
A plan was developed to update and expand the gardens. The goal was to create a sustainable, environmentally friendly habitat that encourages Library use, volunteerism, exploration and inspires learning. Currently, the new garden is referred to as The Pollinator Garden and has been registered as an official stop on the NC Butterfly Highway. The Pollinator Garden will be dedicated to the memory of the late Doris Ann Bradley who passed away in November 2020. Doris Ann was a former Librarian and was one of the branch's beloved volunteers. She was instrumental in the creation of the garden and put forth many of the garden’s goals.
While the gardens are a work in progress, it is used as a learning garden or demonstration garden. They
are designed to be an outdoor teaching and learning area on topics such as horticulture, the natural environment and land water or wildlife conservation. It provides the perfect accommodation for groups like our community partner Mecklenburg Extension Master Gardener Volunteers to conduct on-site learning and education.
The Read to Seed Garden series is a spin-off from the in-person program that was conducted by Matthews Library. Read to Seed - Gardening with the Myers Park Library Garden Club is a gathering where guests can learn about environmentally-friendly gardening practices from experienced gardeners. Here one can share their gardening experiences, ask questions and discuss their favorite books or other media about gardens and gardening.
Read to Seed welcomes all gardeners – from beginner to experienced. Come learn something new and create something wonderful in your garden.
Join us for the next upcoming 3 events in the series:
Monday, June 28 at 12 p.m.-1 p.m.
Master Gardener Margaret Genkins - virtual presentation of Blooms, Bees, and Birds
Native plants that create healthy, beautiful Carolina gardens that host and attract birds and pollinators.
Margaret Genkins is an Emeritus Extension Master Gardener Volunteer with Mecklenburg County, NC. Her passion for gardening, nature, and ecology is anchored in over 30 years of gardening on 2 acres in south Charlotte and in her ongoing pursuit of horticulture and ecology education such as completing the Native Plant Studies Program at UNCC. Margaret's approach to gardening education is focused on simple, effective gardening and environmental stewardship practices to help each of us create healthy, beautiful gardens and green spaces that enhance and support our local ecosystems. Register here.
Monday, August 9 at 12 p.m.-1 p.m.
Master Gardener Margaret Genkins - virtual presentation of Native Secrets for Your Shady Garden
Tips and techniques for gardening in the shade with a selection of shade-loving Carolina native plants. Register here.
Monday, August 23 at 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.
Those of you who are relatively new to Charlotte may not know what a great place it is to garden: mild winters, long spring and fall; geographically close to mountains and coast; near several public gardens and good nurseries. You may also not be aware of our problems: hot, humid summers with high night temperatures; lots of red clay soil; variable rainfall. This talk will introduce gardeners to these factors and offer insight and solutions including specific plants for the four seasons of Charlotte gardening. And you can ask lots of questions.
Dr. Larry Mellichamp is a retired Professor of Botany and Horticulture and was director of the Botanical Gardens at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Larry is a world traveler and expert on native plants of all kinds. He has received several teaching awards and written several books, including the recent Native Plants of the Southeast…the best species for the garden (Timber Press, 2014); and Bizarre Botanicals (2010) and The Southeast Native Plant Primer (2020) with Paula Gross. He is the 2016 recipient of the Tom Dodd, Jr. Plantsman Award of Excellence from the Cullowhee Native Plant Conference. He gardens at home in Charlotte where he lives with his wife Audrey. Register here.