News from the Amherst Town Library

In This Issue
Playaway View
Ice Cream Social
Lunch at the Library
Along the Garden Path
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Playaway Views
 
Check out our new collection of "Playaway Views". Education meets entertainment in these all-in-one video players for children. They are portable, convenient, durable, and loaded with great content including favorites from PBS and Scholastic stories. This collection is made possible by a generous donation from the Friends of the Library
Greetings,

We're nearing the end of our Summer Reading Program, don't forget to stop by for some of our upcoming events and participate in our raffles!
 
Ice Cream Social
social

Come to the Town Green on Thursday, August 9th from 2 to 4 as we wrap up our summer reading program for kids. In case of inclement weather, we will meet in the community room of the Congregational Church, just off the green. 
Lunch at the Library  

Teen Cooking Program

Thursday, August 2 at 11:30 am

 

Come to the library to learn how to make your own delicious wraps and smoothies. Cathy Duchesne, from Kids Culinary Arts, will be on hand with all the ingredients and know-how you'll need to make your own delicious lunch! Once we've created our culinary masterpieces, we'll eat lunch right here at the library---either inside or outside, weather permitting. Space is limited, so go online (or call) and register! For kids entering grades 6 and up.

 
Along the Garden Path at the Library...
Annuals or Perennnials?
by Marti Warren
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At the town library we are fortunate to have both annual gardens and perennial gardens. What's the difference, you might ask? Flanking either side of the front entrance and around the light post are annual gardens. Those plants are selected each year by the garden club leads and planted by the committee. They get water, fertilizer, deadheading and good sun, which is what they need to produce massive flowers. They will only bloom for a few months and then will be pulled out, hence their title. We like planting annuals along the walkway because they are in constant bloom, adding color and interest to that area. We usually add a few vegetables (annual) that are of special interest, such as the multi-colored ornamental peppers, curly parsley, red or green kale, or the lovely purple flowered eggplant. This year we have two Zebra tomato plants. Watch what color they turn when they have ripened; it is not your traditional red!

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In front of the stonewall along the street side of the building is a perennial garden. These plants bloom for a given amount of time and in the fall they die back completely. It is truly amazing how much these plants grow in a very small amount of time. They have a specific period of time they bloom in the summer. There are early, middle and late bloomers and the idea is to get some of each so you have a constant bloom; often times they overlap. In this garden we put early spring bulbs, such as the Peruvian daffodil, globe allium, or tulips. We also put in summer-blooming bulbs. This year you will see the delicate Peacock Glads that were planted early summer. They are very unusual and should bloom in August. We always add a few of the annuals that we have in the entranceway for a little continuity, as well as to use as a replacement along the walkway. Occasionally a plant gets stepped on and this gives us the replacement. In the perennial garden you will see cranesbill geranium, delphinium, lamium, shasta daisies, day lilies, sedum and phlox to name a few. Oh I almost for got to mention the snake root also known as Cimicifuga racemosa. That would be the tallest plant in the perennial garden with white flowers. I love the way it waves in the breeze, welcoming everyone and adds an airy, lacy backdrop to the garden. Its fragrant flowers are deer resistant (haven't seen any in the village lately), rabbit resistant and attracts butterflies!

 

The Amherst Garden Club works with the town DPW and Library to make our Town Library a lovely place to visit. There are many books on gardening available to be taken out. The Amherst Garden Club offers programs on gardening from September through May open to the public. Check their website www.amherstgardenclub.org for more information.

 

Happy Gardening!

 

Remember, the library is a happening place and your library card is your ticket to free books, magazines, music, movies, Internet access, enriching programs and much more!

 

Sincerely,

 

Amherst Town Library