The Island Free Library is “going green” for March, but not in the modern sense of the phrase. Rather, the theme relates to plants.
For those who can’t wait for winter to turn to spring, there may be help in the form of a houseplant. The library has set up a new Plant Cutting Swap and Propagation Station where patrons may either drop off a plant cutting, take one, or both.
When The Times visited earlier this week, there were several varieties available for the taking – including some common varieties, and some less so. So far, 14 types of plants have been checked in, including spider plants, coleus, geraniums, rose geraniums, African violet, peace lily, and a rubber plant.
To help you along, there is a list of plants that are easy to propagate, jars to take your cutting home, and a comprehensive booklet is available to be emailed as a PDF, with directions for propagating several varieties of plants, including ginger root and many types of herbs.
The idea is to “bring a cutting, take a cutting,” but it’s not required that you donate one. Still, the desire is to “Help create a perpetual plant swap station that will replenish itself,” according to the display.
The display itself is quite artful and a delight to behold, even for non-gardeners that don’t wish to have a new, green pet.
It’s also the return of the seed library, and again, patrons are encouraged to take and leave flower and plant seeds. It’s been prestocked with plenty of varieties of Burpee flower and vegetable seeds by the University of Rhode Island Master Gardener program.
