By Anthony Stanford –
The Richard and Gina Santori Library of Aurora was host to Pick Your Plot Day May 19. The event was held at the Juvenile Protective Association Children’s Nature Garden, one of the library’s two outdoor gardens on the west side of the building. The gardens offer library customers a unique environment and experience.
Dedicated in 2015, the Juvenile Protective Association Children’s Nature Garden and the Parker Garden were made possible by generous donations to the Aurora Public Library Foundation.
The Children’s Nature Garden provides a special place for the children of Aurora to play, read, learn, and discover nature. The garden features waterfalls with slate art walls, nature art tables, reading gazebos, a fairy garden, jumping stones, a prairie path, flower beds, and a gathering tree for storytimes.
Assistant manager of Children’s Services, Katie Stringwell, talked about the third year that the library has presented gardening programs for children, and pointed out that, “Participants join our Santori Sprouts program, and throughout the Summer, they help tend to the plantings and learn about topics such as composting, and plant growth from seed to harvest. It’s been a great experience to see children learn basic gardening skills and they enjoy seeing their work produce things like lettuces, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and flowers.”
Attending the Pick Your Plot event with her daughters and niece, Akilah Gomez talked about the significance of having a children’s garden in Aurora. She said, “I think it’s awesome that children get to learn about self-sufficiency and where their food comes from.”
The Parker Garden, donated by the family of Dr. M. Jack and Elaine Parker, was designed especially for those affected by memory loss. The Parker Garden honors beloved educator Elaine Parker, who suffered from dementia when she died in 2012. Parker Garden is a serene place that provides a place for people with memory loss and their caregivers a tranquil place for relaxing. The garden’s well-thought-out design with its raised beds, benches, chime alerts, gates, and handrails assist caretakers and those with limited mobility.
Kelly McCleary, president of the Aurora Public Library Foundation Board, described what the gardens have come to mean to the Aurora community, by saying, “Since opening the gardens in August 2015, lots of people have enjoyed the beauty and function of the gardens. It is nice seeing people experience programs such as Creative Planting in Pots, reading, eating lunch, or just relaxing in the garden.”
Anthony Stanford is an author and Aurora Public Library media consultant.