Stephanie Morrissette
Stephanie Morrissette is an avid naturalist and is a Library Assistant at the Reference and Local History Department at CDPL.
Summer is probably the most active season of the year. Here at CDPL we have a lineup of summer adult programs you may enjoy. On Saturday, May 27, at 10 am, we will be creating our own Homemade Bird Nests, so natural looking you might say it is real! We will be using various grasses, ribbons, and twine to make a birdnest that resembles one you would find in nature. Display it in your garden or as an interesting conversation piece. For additional nature craft ideas and information, including how-tos, we have you covered. Garden Made: A Year of Seasonal Projects to Beautify Your Garden and Your Life by Stephanie Whitney-Rose (635 Whi) offers a great selection of projects for you to choose from. We also have A Touch of Farmhouse Charm by Liz Fourez (747.88 Fou) for that rustic, vintage feel. Plant Craft by Caitlin Atkinson (635.9 Atk) has easy-to-make designs using natural materials and provides a lot of great decor ideas, as does Tree Craft by Chris Lubkemann (731.4 Lub). Finally, a book to mention is Nature Crafts by Yuji Miura (745.92 Miu) which includes projects created from plants and leaves.
In June, we will make Botanical Mobiles on Saturday, June 24, at 10 am. Join us to make a mobile with simple materials, with live plant starts provided. Other options for ideas using plants are available at CDPL. Wreaths: Fresh, Foraged and Dried Floral Arrangements by Katie Smyth (745.92 Smy) is one I personally recommend. There are so many neat ideas and inspirations in this book. It’s one of my favorites. Branches and Blooms by Alethea Harampolis (745.926) or Urban Jungle: Living and Styling with Plants by Igor Josifovic (635.965 Jos) are good choices to learn how to decorate with plants, as is Decorating with Plants by Baylor Chapman (635.9 Cha).
On Saturday, July 15, at 10 am, we will be offering a program to make moss wreaths. This is an exciting project you will be able to take home and hang on your door for that summery feel. Other creative outdoor ideas can be found in Backyard Treehouses: Building Plans, Tips and Advice by Dan Wright (690.89 Wri) will give you great projects that the kids will love. Build it Yourself: Weekend Projects for the Garden by Frank Perrone (690.89 Per) has easy-to-follow instructions on all the project ideas presented in the book. Recycle! Make Your Own Eco-Friendly and Creative Designs for Your Home and Garden by Moira Hankinson (745.584 Han) provides ideas on how to re-use already available items in your home, and I also highly recommend Crafting with Pallets: Projects for Rustic Furniture, Decor, Arts, Gifts and More by Becky Lamb (684.08 Lam). Put to use scrap wood to create garden art.
Your local library has a vast collection of resources for you to peruse. For specific ideas, we can help you locate items at the library or in our digital media in e-content format. From ebooks to magazines, there are hundreds of choices.
We hope to see you at our summer adult library programs. Be sure to check our website (cdpl.lib.in.us) for program registrations (under our calendar tab). If you need assistance registering, or you have any questions, please contact the Reference desk at 765-362-2242. CDPL is open Monday through Thursday from 9 am to 9 pm; Fridays and Saturdays from 9 am to 5 pm and on Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm.
