When I was a renter, I dreamed about being a homeowner. Among my reasons for wanting this was so I could decide the types of flowers, shrubs and trees in the yard. My goal was to have something blooming each season of the year.
One of the benefits of living in coastal North Carolina is that this is actually possible. We have a growing season of more than 250 days, which allows us to have blooming plants in our yards virtually year round!
If you have an interest in gardening, or are simply interested in an attractive and well-landscaped yard to add to your curb appeal and property value, the library provides resources to help you plan and undertake gardening projects.
North Regional Library has a series of programs planned for spring. We lead off on Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. with “Landscaping in the Sandhills.” An attractive yard and garden requires thought and planning. Join us as Brad Goodrum, instructor of horticulture at Fayetteville Technical Community College, discusses the environmental challenges of the Sandhills, plants that thrive in this area, and how to develop a landscape plan to meet your lifestyle, aesthetics and location. Supplement what you learn from Goodrum by going to a library and checking out books such as “Landscaping Your Home: Creative Ideas from American’s Best Gardeners,” “The Four-Season Landscape,” “The Front Garden,” “Landscaping Makes Cents,” and “The Border Book.”
Each year the library works to improve its overall collections, but we also select a specific topic on which to expand and improve the holdings. Gardening was the topic selected for this year; currently there are more than 800 entries pertaining to gardening. There are guides for selecting annuals, perennials, shrubs and trees.
Interested in organic gardening? We have books for you – “The All You Can Eat Gardening Handbook: Easy Organic Vegetables and More Money in Your Pocket” and “Step by Step Organic Vegetable Gardening.” Recent additions and books on order include “Fun Gardening for Kids,” “The Better Homes and Gardens Quick Color Gardening,” “Perennial Vegetable Gardening With Eric Toensmeier,” “Landscaping Solutions for Small Spaces” and “Landscaping for Privacy.”
The staff is not only updating and expanding our holdings in this subject area; we are highlighting it with our programming, too. In the coming months at North Regional Library, look for programs on growing roses, vegetable gardening, container gardening, urban chickens, and creating and watering with rain barrels.
Landscaping and gardening can be challenging and rewarding experiences. Whether you love to spend time tending your shrubs, flowers and vegetables or prefer a low-maintenance garden, the library has resources for you. Come visit us. North Regional Library is at 855 McArthur Road, Fayetteville. For information on programs, call 822-1998 or check out events on our website at www.cumberland.lib.nc.us/ccplsite.
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