Originally published April 11, 2024. Updated November 4, 2024
The Library is installing a native pollinator and sensory garden onsite at our Administrative Center, located at 301 E. Olive St.! We broke ground on the project in early February and are making steady progress rehabilitating and redesigning the land. The garden will open in Summer 2024, and we’re planning all sorts of fun grand opening activities. Stay tuned!
“The garden is a wonderful opportunity for us to provide a healthy environment for pollinators while also extending library spaces outdoors for community programs and learning,” said Diane Lapierre, Poudre Libraries executive director.
The planned garden will feature 26 different native plant species and more than 380 individual plants. It also features multiple ADA-height raised garden planters, benches, and sensory elements like a fountain and wind chimes.
“This garden space will provide myriad benefits to both community members as well as the local ecology by providing a variety of ecosystem services, said Stuart Shoemaker, owner and founder of Blue Spruce Horticulture. “The plant species have regional adaptability and provide food and habitat for insects, birds, and small mammals. The sensory elements of the garden including wind chimes, grasses, and a boulder fountain will create an auditory experience while other plants will provide tactile and scent sensations.”
Garden of Inspiration
Deidre Hand, a library assistant at Poudre Libraries, pioneered the project and will help the garden bloom year-round. “We want to create an inclusive and accessible space for people of all ages to learn about the importance of pollinators, to inspire stewardship, and to bring the joy of nature and gardening to the community and our Old Town neighbors.”
The garden is made possible by a Nature in the City grant from the City of Fort Collins.
“The Library’s vision aligned perfectly with the goals of the Nature in the City Program,” said Kate Rentschlar, Environmental Planner with the City of Fort Collins Natural Areas. “This project will increase native habitat for wildlife in the heart of our city while also providing easy access to nature for our community. We are especially excited that the Library will be actively using this space to expand their programming and really creating a hands-on experience for participants.”
The Nectary
Following a community naming contest with over 120 entries, Poudre Libraries staff choose “The Nectary” as the name of this special library space. The Garden launched in August 2024 and has hosted various children’s programs centering around nature and pollinators. Additionally, it serves as a tranquil location for adult yoga classes offered by the library.
Check our online events calendar for seasonal programs at the Nectary Pollinator and Sensory Garden.
