Where there used to be paved driveway along the east side of the Library is the site of the new Library Rain Garden! This large garden and its associated rain barrels will manage rain water coming off the Library roof and use it to nurture this area of moisture-loving plants, rather than speeding away to cause erosion. It will also be an educational garden, demonstrating a permaculture approach to water management, and featuring native and pollinator-friendly plants. We will buy a range of specific plants to establish this new garden, but are hoping community members will also share some from their own land. This is a wonderful way for you to support the Library, and have an on-going connection as you watch the Rain Garden grow.
Can you provide any of these specific plants?
Red Cardinal Flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
Blue Cardinal Flower (Lobelia siphilitica)
Northern Blue Flag Iris (Iris versicolor)
Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris)
Queen of the Prairie (Gilipendula rubra)
Spotted Joe Pye Weed (Eupatorium maculatum)
Dense Blazing Star (Liatris spicata)
If you have enough of any of these to share a few (or several) individuals, that would be wonderful. Remember to dig responsibly if gathering from the wild, and leave most of the population to continue. You do not need to remove all of the soil from the plants you dig, but please clean them sufficiently to remove all hitchhiker plants, …… and do not share plants from an area known to harbor invasive weeds (especially Gout Weed). (Gout Weed (Aegopodium podagraria), also called Ground Elder, Herb Gerard or Bishop’s Weed, is an aggressively invasive alien plant from Eurasia which spreads as a thick ground cover.) Please maintain your plants temporarily in pots or other containers which you can keep watered until planting day. And don’t forget to label them! Let us know what you have to offer, and what planting day in October you would like to bring them to the Library. Our planting dates will be announced soon, and at that time you are also welcome to sign up to help plant!
If you have questions, or need help digging your plants, please contact us at Seed@charlottepubliclibrary.org. Thank you so much!
Linda Hamilton and Karen Tuininga, Seed Library Coordinators, and Library Educational Landscape Project Leaders
Charlotte Seed Library 