Library Lady’s K-12 Edition is a mostly weekly newsletter for K-12 school librarians. Today’s topic is — Gardening.
Library Lady’s K-12 Edition will only be published every other week during the summer. We will be back to our regular schedule in mid-August.
Links in this post may be affiliate links. Purchases made using these links will not cost you more, but I may earn an affiliate fee.
We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and related sites. Thank you for using my links.
Is there a topic you’d like me to feature on my blog or in my email? Send me a note and let me know.
I am what libraries and librarians have made me. Heraclitus
Tips from Library Lady
Growing Readers in the Garden
June feels like the perfect time to lean into all things gardens, flowers, nature, and outdoor learning. Gardening themes work beautifully in school libraries because they naturally connect reading, science, creativity, mindfulness, and hands-on exploration. Even better, many gardening activities can be adapted for nearly any age group with very little prep.
This month, I’m sharing a few garden-inspired library ideas that go beyond traditional bulletin boards and displays.
Garden-Themed Programming Ideas for School Libraries
Create a “Seed Packet Book Review” Station
Instead of traditional book recommendation cards, create paper seed packets that students can decorate and fill with:
- favorite books,
- “reading seeds” (books they want others to discover),
- or short reading recommendations.
Display them in baskets, flower pots, or attached to a bulletin board.
Host a “Grow a Story” Writing Activity
Start stories with gardening-themed prompts such as:
- “The mysterious seed began glowing…”
- “One morning, the school garden had giant footprints…”
- “The flowers whispered after dark…”
Students can continue the story individually or collaboratively throughout the month.
This works especially well for passive programming.
Build a “Garden of Genres”
Assign each flower bed or garden section a reading genre.
Examples:
- Mystery Mushrooms
- Fantasy Flowers
- Biography Bushes
- Poetry Patch
- Graphic Novel Greenhouse
Students can add book titles to the matching “garden section” as they discover new reads.
Create a Pollinator Discovery Station
Set up a small table or cart featuring:
- bee books,
- butterfly nonfiction,
- flower guides,
- pollinator facts,
- and magnifying glasses.
You can even include simple observation journals for students to sketch insects they notice outdoors.
Offer Nature Journaling Breaks
Keep clipboards, paper, and colored pencils available for quick outdoor observation sessions.
Students can:
- sketch leaves,
- write poetry,
- describe weather,
- or record sounds they hear outside.
This pairs wonderfully with SEL and mindfulness themes.
“What Would You Plant?” Interactive Board
Create a large paper garden and invite students to answer questions on flower cutouts, such as:
- What book would you plant in every library?
- What kindness would you grow at school?
- What would your dream reading garden include?
This becomes both decoration and student engagement.
Garden-Themed Makerspace Ideas
Simple garden-inspired makerspace activities might include:
- designing miniature paper gardens,
- creating flower bookmarks,
- building recycled-material bird feeders,
- or designing imaginary plants with unusual “reading powers.”
Example:
“A plant that grows a new book every day.”
Feature Books Set in Gardens or Nature
Some excellent gardening-themed titles to highlight include:
- The Secret Garden
- The Curious Garden
- Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt
- Seedfolks
- Planting a Rainbow
These books work beautifully for displays, read-alouds, and cross-curricular connections.
Resource of the Week
This week’s featured resource:
“Garden-Inspired Bulletin Board Ideas for School Libraries & Classrooms”
If you’re looking for fresh display inspiration, this collection includes:
- reading garden themes,
- interactive bulletin board ideas,
- flower and pollinator displays,
- and garden-inspired reading challenges.
Perfect for summer library decorating or early fall planning.
As always, remember that library spaces don’t have to be elaborate to feel inviting. Sometimes, a simple seasonal theme, a few thoughtful activities, and a welcoming reading atmosphere are more than enough to inspire students to explore.
I have a Gardening & Nature Passive Programming Activity Pack in my TpT shop.
June Celebrations
Books to Celebrate Beatix Potter
Books with a Gardening theme
Gardening-Themed Bulletin Board Ideas
| Need to raise funds for your library? Here are some posts on my blog that describe my fundraising camps. |
June Birthdays
| Date | Person | Why They’re Notable | Library/Content Tie-In |
| June 1 | Beatrix Potter | Creator of Peter Rabbit | Picture books, animal stories, author study |
| June 2 | Thomas Hardy | Classic literary author | Classics displays, poetry |
| June 3 | Allen Ginsberg | Beat Generation poet | Poetry discussions, banned books themes |
| June 5 | Federico García Lorca | Influential literary figure | Poetry and world literature |
| June 6 | Nathan Hale | Creator of popular historical graphic novels | Graphic novel displays |
| June 8 | Maurice Sendak | Creator of Where the Wild Things Are | Storytime and imagination themes |
| June 8 | Barbara Bush | Literacy advocate | Family literacy themes |
| June 9 | Cole Porter | Musical theater legend | Music appreciation displays |
| June 10 | Judy Garland | Star of The Wizard of Oz | Classic film/book tie-ins |
| June 12 | Anne Frank | Author of The Diary of a Young Girl | Holocaust education, journals |
| June 13 | William Butler Yeats | Nobel Prize-winning poet | Poetry displays |
| June 14 | Harriet Beecher Stowe | Author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin | Historical fiction themes |
| June 15 | Helen Hunt Jackson | Author and activist | Western history and literature |
| June 16 | Erich Segal | Author of Love Story | Popular fiction displays |
| June 18 | Chris Van Allsburg | Creator of Jumanji and The Polar Express | Imagination and adventure themes |
| June 21 | Jean-Paul Sartre | Existentialist writer | Philosophy and literature |
| June 22 | Octavia E. Butler | Groundbreaking sci-fi writer | STEM and diverse voices displays |
| June 25 | George Orwell | Author of 1984 and Animal Farm | Dystopian literature themes |
| June 26 | Pearl S. Buck | Nobel Prize-winning author | World literature |
| June 27 | Helen Keller | Inspirational historical figure | Disability awareness and biographies |
| June 28 | Peter Paul Rubens | Famous painter | Art appreciation tie-ins |
| June 29 | Antoine de Saint-Exupéry | Author of The Little Prince | Friendship and imagination themes |
| June 30 | Lena Horne | Performer and civil rights advocate | Music/history displays |
Recent Library Lady Posts
Family Reading Ideas for the Summer
Why Parents Should Monitor Their Children’s Reading
End-of-Year Priorities for School Librarians
Recent Adult Book Reviews
Adult Review – Chase the Light
Recent YA Book Reviews
YYA Spotlight – Frogman Puck Origins: The Rising Tides
Recent MS Book Reviews
MS Review – Oscar and the Mystery of the Glowing Orbs – middle school
Recent Kid Book Reviews
Kid Review – The Unwinding Path – picture book
Kid Spotlight – Hadley the Hippo is What She Eats
Kid Review – Big Thoughts for Tiny Tots
Items in my Shop
Cute animals with books – stickers, shirts and more in my Redbubble Shop
What I’m Checking Out
Transforming Your Library with a Garden
Some things that might interest you
📚 Tools for School Librarians 📚
As librarians, we’re always looking for creative ways to engage students and enhance programming. These tools are easy to use. Explore them today and see how they might fit into your toolkit.
If you have a little time this summer to learn a new skill and are interested in GPTs, I recommend this “How to Build Your Own GPT” workshop.
Or, if you’d like a GPT to help you create worksheets for your students, I suggest this custom GPT – Imagination Station: New GPTs Create Kids Activity Sheets
Authors and librarians, would you like to have a post on this blog?
I’d like to add a couple of features to my blog in the coming months and would appreciate your help. I am looking for school librarians interested in being interviewed on the blog. I am also looking for librarians and children’s or young adult authors to do guest posts on the blog. Click on the links below to fill out a survey.
Is there a way I can help you? Drop a note in the comments or shoot me an email. I’d love to help.
See you next week.
Jane (Library Lady)
Miss an Edition of K-12 Edition – find them here.
If you’d like to receive the K-12 Edition in your inbox, sign up here. You will also receive my book evaluation checklist as a gift.
Do you enjoy these posts? Hit the like button and help others find it.
Check out my lists on Benable
Want to help support this blog? You can leave a tip here. Or make any purchase on Amazon with my link.
