“SI HORTUM IN BIBLIOTHECA HABES, DEERIT NIHIL”
Cicero
“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything.”
Revitalizing the garden
Since 1965, the Stratford and District Horticultural Society has maintained a garden at the Stratford Public Library. Through the years, the Library Garden has undergone many changes.
In 2020, Garden Stratford and the library joined forces to completely transform the garden. The new version was envisioned by a committee after assessing needs and doing extensive research.
A local landscaping company was employed to make this vision a reality. Shovels went into the ground in the fall of 2021, and planting was completed the following spring.
About the garden
The new garden is designed to be open, inviting and accessible.
A meandering path leads library patrons and visitors from Church Street to the library entrance, passing by five gardens and three seating areas. The five gardens are planted with native and pollinator plants that attract butterflies, hummingbirds and song birds. They are ideal “teaching gardens.”
The largest seating area is a circular arrangement of twelve armour stones, which creates an ideal setting for library programs, meetings, instruction, or social events. Local school students are often perched on the rocks.
The smaller circles provide more private settings to read and relax.
Our partners and supporters
The Library Garden renewal was made possible by funding from Stratford Public Library Foundation, Stratford and District Horticultural Association, Stratford Perth Community Foundation representing Orr Family Fund, Mansbridge Environmental Fund, Culliton Fund, Reading Fund, Judy Riebling Legacy Fund, and Smart and Caring Community Fund. Additional support was provided by the Ontario Horticultural Association and by the City of Stratford.
