Awarded by the National Association of Counties

In an ongoing effort to provide an attractive experiential learning environment for children in grades K-2, Henrico County Public Library’s Glen Allen Branch has created a native plant garden.  This collaboration with several County agencies and volunteer groups, including Keep Henrico Beautiful and Henrico’s Environmental Action Resources Team (H.E.A.R.T.) provides opportunities for children attending library programs to learn about native plants, pollinators, and basic ecology.  In fall of 2024, seven young people from the H.E.A.R.T. Youth Council installed the first plants, focusing on perennials that will come back year after year.  As these plants become established, their varied bloom times and interesting foliage improve the year-round appeal of the garden beds and provide an interactive learning experience for visitors to the library.