This September, staff at the Norris Community Library and volunteers worked on the front area of the library’s garden, from the sidewalk leading up to the Museum entrance over to next to the marble sculpture. Empty space in the garden was filled in to prevent weeds, provide a more cohesive appearance, and utilize the available space better. New native plants were added and some current native plants were divided to give them room to grow. Non-native plants were removed from the garden. Invasive plants were removed entirely while others like Lenten Roses and the library’s much coveted Hostas were separated out and provided to the community. This project is part of an ongoing initiative to majorly renovate the library front farden, decrease the need for regular maintenance, comply with the guidelines of the greater Norris area (a Tree City), and turn the garden into a certified Natural Wildlife Habitat.
In the future, the library plans to improve the rest of the garden space around the building by replacing with native plants where applicable. A bird bath and bird houses will provide resources for birds. The wooden benches are also in need of repair and will be replaced with solar benches that provide free device charging.
To date, all improvements and work have been completely free, thanks to volunteer gardeners Zach Cross, Felicia and Boone Carlyle, Yvonne Webb, Joanna Busigin, and Jeff and Cyndie Foster.
Plants were graciously donated by the Native Plant Rescue Squad, which rescues native plants that would otherwise be destroyed during clearing, building, and development. If you would like to support them, you can donate to the Squad at https://www.nativeplantrescuesquad.org/ or go to their location in the Knoxville Botanical Gardens and purchase a rescue plant.
You can also support future garden improvements by donating to the Friends of the Norris Community Library via cash or check any time during the library’s normal business hours.
The ultimate goals of this garden project are:
- Improve the public outdoor space by creating a beautiful, envrionmentally friendly, and inviting space for people in Norris.
- Better the local ecosystem by providing food and habitat for wildlife like butterflies, moths, birds, and more.
- Educate the public about gardening and creating habitats with native plants.
Why are native plants important?
- “adapted to the local climate and soil conditions where they naturally occur. These important plant species provide nectar, pollen, and seeds that serve as food for native butterflies, insects, birds and other animals. … [They] promote biodiversity and stewardship of our natural heritage… and are beautiful.” They require less fertilizers, pesticides, and watering than non-natives. –USFS
- “These plants have formed symbiotic relationships with native wildlife over thousands of years, meaning that many native animals are dependent on these particular species to survive. Native plants are always the best bet when it comes to supporting their local wildlife…. They can sequester more carbon by taking it out of our atmosphere and storing it in the soil through their deep root systems than many non-native ornamental garden plants do. ” – National Wildlife Federation
- https://www.audubon.org/content/why-native-plants-matter
If you would like to see what natives you can plant in your garden, check out:
A special thanks to volunteer Holly for cleaning up the library cornucopia sculpture in the front garden as well.
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