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Exercise Your Green Thumb
Written By: Deena Bouknight | Issue: 2021/05 – May
The days are growing long and warm – it’s time to get back in the dirt. But first, some quick lessons, courtesy of the Plateau’s twin libraries.
After months of cooler-to-downright cold temperatures, leafless – though beautifully silhouetted – trees, and plenty of soggy days, evidence of spring is everywhere.
May is the right time to stop worrying about freezes and frosts and to consider exercising a green thumb. Whether adept at all things out-of-doors-related or a newbie with a practical interest, libraries provide tons of necessary resources.
“We have shelves and shelves of gardening and landscape design books, native plants and green gardening techniques, and sustaining native wildlife and insects like bees and butterflies with intentional gardening,” said Serenity Richards, branch librarian at Albert Carlton-Cashiers Community Library. “Plus, the free Universal Class site also has such classes as an introduction to gardening, vegetable gardening 101, tropical gardening, and all about herbs. We have an extensive collection of gardening e-resources, as well, eBooks and eMagazines in e-iNC. And, Kanopy has videos from Great Courses on gardening and sustainable living, how to grow anything, garden design and planning, food gardens, planting with native plants.”
The Universal Class’s Introduction to Gardening focuses on soil preparation, pest control, plant propagation, and four categories of gardening: flower, vegetable, herb, and specialty.
Also available at both libraries within the Fontana Library system, are resources regarding flower arranging.
“We have a variety of books on that topic, plus at least one Universal Class,” said Carlyn Morenus, branch librarian, at Hudson Library in Highlands.
In addition, would-be home/amateur landscapers can find plenty of books on the subject to transform their staid yard into something stellar. Another Universal Class, Landscaping 101, makes certain to cover all the basics, including:
– determining harmony, balance, color, natural transitions, proportion, and line
– assessing present landscape needs
– settling on the intended purpose of the landscape
– gathering ideas
– developing a basic plan and creating a timetable for the work
– learning how to avoid common landscaping mistakes
– making the most of what already exists, such as native plants
Universal Class is available for use on library computers or at home, as are other library-offered e-resources.
