Name: Carmel Special Feature
Address: Carmel Library Building
City: Charlotte, NC
Funding: Mecklenburg County
Approval: Ann Gill

 

Overview: Carmel Special Feature

 

A fresh focus for Carmel. Cooperating with Ann Gill, supervisor of the Mecklenburg County PLANT Program (Piedmont Landscaping and Naturescaping Training), we have devised a novel use of the existing features of the Carmel Library Building that will begin to allow us to develop a fresh focus as an environmental learning center.

Carmel's five floor-to-ceiling windows overlook a fresh green growth of young trees and shrubs. This natural border is an average of 15 feet away from the building, with a small grass buffer strip and a row of Burfordii hollies next to the building. We propose to convert this outdoor space into space for both active and passive programming.

 

The PLANT program conducts composting and naturescaping classes for the public and needs a site in the Pineville area. Ann Gill has determined that both our outdoor space and meeting room is adequate for these classes. Mint Hill Branch is already scheduled to host composting classes in the Mint Hill area. What would be different about the Carmel site is that we would also use the Carmel windows to teach about the program. Attractive weatherproof signage (provided by the PLANT program) explaining the process would be turned toward the windows for all who visit the library to see

 

Implementation:
The project has been implemented in three phases:

Phase one:
Trim the hollies in front of the window closest to Johnston Rd. level with the ground and install the landscaping timbers and wire bins used by the composting classes. PLCMC would trim the hollies and PLANT do the rest including provide the interpretative signage at no cost. PLANT would begin to schedule composting classes at the Carmel Branch; they handle all registrations for their classes, we would provide information.

 

Phase two:
A.Trim the hollies in front of the next window then install outdoor sign(s) now being developed by PLANT. The signs would explain the negative impact of exotic invasive plants on the home landscape. We have living examples of the actual consequences of the exotic plant invasion with Japanese honeysuckle and Russian olive invading the woodland right in front of the window.

B. Remove the hollies from in front of the third window and install in their place native plants that attract and feed birds and other wildlife. Add signs developed by PLANT that explain the value of these plants to the environment. The native plants would be provided and installed at no cost by the PLANT program.

 

Phase Three:
Display free informational materials from PLANT on the program in the library, develop displays of library materials on the subject and promote the program in our local schools and in the media. This would provide a unique feature for the branch that could be a focus and give us an opportunity to network with a different part of the community.