New pollinator garden blooms at Danville Public Library

DANVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — The Danville Public Library is home to a new pollinator garden that officials said is already thriving.

Officials with the University of Illinois Office of Extension and Outreach said the garden is the result of extensive planning and work that started three years ago. Although the area was landscaped, it was home to old rose bushes, grass and other weeds. The library reached out to the Vermilion County Master Gardeners to create a more sustainable design.

“Some people at the library had a vision to make a native plant garden, but not everyone at the library was on board,” Master Gardener and Master Naturalist Kristin Camp explained. “So, we invited the director of the library, the groundskeeper, and the library board president to come out to the native garden at my house, and within five minutes, they were sold.”

Along with the East Central Illinois Master Naturalists, the Vermilion County Master Gardeners and Danville Public Library started a three-stage project in the spring of 2022.

The first stage, officials said, focused on the area along Vermilion Street and Seminary Street. It features a variety of native plants like prairie dropseed, rudbeckia, purple coneflower, orange butterfly weed and bee balm, which were chosen for their ecological benefits and aesthetic appeal.

The second stage of planting happened in October of 2022, and it included the addition of 80 shrubs and two trees. Featuring redbud trees, New Jersey tea, leadplant and spicebush, officials said they were chosen for fall color and with a focus on native species.

The final stage of planting was done last year along Vermilion Street, with a strategic layering of plants: shorter plants in front and taller in the back.

This summer, the results of this work are on full display: a spectacular flower display that has become a hotspot for pollinators likes bees, wasps, butterflies and mydas.

“The garden’s creation has not only beautified the library grounds but also serves as an educational and ecological asset for the community,” UI extension said. “The Danville Public Library now boasts a thriving Pollinator Garden that stands as a testament to the dedication and vision of the Vermilion County Master Gardeners and the East Central Illinois Master Naturalists.”

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