The Town and Country Garden Club
Eatonton, GA |  |
Landscaping of the Putnam County Library
in Eatonton, Georgia
Putnam County Library is one of the few original Carnegie Libraries
in Georgia still being used as a Library
Click here to go to the Eatonton/Putnam County library website.
The Director of the Azalea District announced a Special Project during her term from 2007-2009. She requested that the Azalea Garden Clubs contribute to their local libraries. This could range from helping within the library, donating a book, making a floral arrangement or landscaping.
We discussed our options during our September meeting. One of our members, Myra, is on the board of the Putnam County Library. She informed our members, that, more than books, they needed help with the landscaping. The Putnam county library had been landscaped years ago, but the landscaping had not been maintained .
As we had members who were looking for a project, but were unable to work on Wednesdays at Turner Park, it was decided that we would take on the landscaping at the library. Pat and Judy agreed to be the leads on this project.
The first step was to get the funds to do the project. The Eatonton Kiwanis donated towards the project and a ‘Community on my Mind’ grant was received to provide matching funds.
Due to the drought and the fact that Eatonton is on level 4 water restrictions, it was decided to do the renovation in three stages. The first stage was to enhance the entrance to the library, as this is the area most visible to the public. There was an existing brick planter extending the length of the long walkway from the parking lot to the front entrance which contained two trees, a few plants worth saving, and many weeds.
Plants, soil amendments and mulch were purchased. The bed beside the walkway was cleared out, amended and tilled. In the brick planter, the two trees and two dwarf nandinas were saved. Dwarf gardenias and dwarf Loropetalum were then planted. A planter in the center of the bed was filled with pansies.
Brick planter after being replanted
After cleaning up the additional beds near the entrance, we placed a cement rabbit as a focal point down the walkway. Since Eatonton is well-known as the birthplace of Joel Chandler Harris and contains the Uncle Remus museum, the rabbit is a reminder of the town’s heritage.
Two other planters flanking a cement bench at the entrance were planted with sky pencil Japanese hollies, creeping raspberries, and pansies. A planter at the back entrance was also planted with pansies.
The latest project was to enhance the ‘gated area’ at the old entrance to the library. The goal was to make it an inviting area to sit and read.
Click here to see more pictures of the library project.
