Get your gardens growing in the right direction with help from SML

I, for one, have never had a green thumb. All plants (except artificial ones) die in my care tragically. I have even managed to destroy plants that were deemed indestructible or labeled as “little care required.” If you gave me a plant, chances are it did not survive for very long. Sad, but true. Therefore, it is not surprising that I absolutely am impressed with all of you who are able to care for plants, have impeccable and beautiful gardens, and can grow your own fruits and vegetables. Luckily for me, and those of us who may not be as skilled at gardening, Shreve Memorial Library has programs to help and seeds to get us started. What is even better is that these programs are also open to those who are a tad bit more experienced in gardening and have glowing green thumbs as well.

The Rodessa Branch of Shreve Memorial Library is hosting a “Get It Growing” workshop in partnership with the LSU AgCenter on Tuesday, February 4 at 2:00 p.m. Since Louisiana has such a long growing season, Mark Wilson will visit the branch to help us all get prepared for the season and get our gardens growing. You will learn about container gardening, no-till gardening, and composting. The workshop is open to gardeners of all skill levels, including wannabe gardeners like myself. The Rodessa Branch is located at 10093 Main Street in Rodessa.

If you already have plants growing, but want to swap them for cuttings for new and different kinds, then you will definitely want to mark your calendars for the Indoor Plant Swap taking place at the Hamilton/South Caddo Branch on Sunday, February 9 at 3:00 p.m. During the event, you can bring plants, cuttings, seeds, pots, tools – anything plant or garden related to trade with others. But remember, this is a plant swap, so no sales are allowed. The Hamilton/South Caddo Branch is located at 2111 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop.

Can’t make either of these events? No worries. Several Shreve Memorial Library branches have seed libraries with a variety of seeds available all year long. What is a seed library? A seed library is a place that shares seeds with the public for free. You can pick up a variety of local seeds to plant and at the end of the planting season return the leftover seeds to the library to share with others. Seed libraries are available at the Broadmoor, Hamilton/South Caddo and North Caddo (Vivian) branches of Shreve Memorial Library. Stop by, grab some seeds, and start planting today.

Until next time, remember to dream, discover, do, and let’s see what we can grow this year!

What’s New at the Library

House of Bone and Rain by Gabino Iglesias (fiction)

For childhood friends Gabe, Xavier, Tavo, Paul, and Bimbo, death has always been close. Hurricanes. Car accidents. Gang violence. Suicide. Estamos rodeados de fantasmas was Gabe’s grandmother’s refrain. We are surrounded by ghosts. But this time is different. Bimbo’s mom has been shot dead. We’re gonna kill the guys who killed her Bimbo swears. And they all agree. Feral with grief, Bimbo has become unrecognizable, taking no prisoners in his search for names. Soon, they learn Maria was gunned down by guys working for the drug kingpin of Puerto Rico. No one has ever gone up against him and survived. As the boys strategize, a storm gathers far from the coast. Hurricanes are known to carry evil spirits in their currents and bring them ashore, spirits which impose their own order. Blurring the boundaries between myth, mysticism, and the grim realities of our world, House of Bone and Rain is a harrowing coming of age story; a doomed tale of devotion, the afterlife of violence, and what rolls in on the tide.

Lady Macbeth: A Novel by Ava Reid (fiction)

The Lady knows the stories: how her eyes induce madness in men. The Lady knows she will be wed to the Scottish brute, who does not leave his warrior ways behind when he comes to the marriage bed. The Lady knows his hostile, suspicious court will be a game of strategy, requiring all of her wiles and hidden witchcraft to survive. But the Lady does not know her husband has occult secrets of his own. She does not know that prophecy girds him like armor. She does not know that her magic is greater and more dangerous, and that it will threaten the order of the world. She does not know this yet. But she will.

I Dreamed of Falling: A Novel by Julia Dahl (fiction)In acclaimed author Julia Dahl’s new standalone, the death of a young mother triggers an avalanche of secrets in a small Hudson Valley town. Roman Grady is the sole reporter for the local newspaper in a tiny Hudson Valley town – a town so small that every store opening and DUI is considered newsworthy. But when Roman’s longtime girlfriend, Ashley, the mother of his four-year-old son, is found dead, he realizes he had no idea what was really going on in her life. And when he starts asking questions, he’s not prepared for the answers. What was Ashley doing at the cliffside home of her troubled ex-girlfriend? How did no one in a house full of people see what happened to her? And why does it seem like everyone in town suddenly has something to hide? As Roman and his mother dig into Ashley’s last few months, the truths they uncover threaten to expose painful secrets. The kind of secrets that can get you killed. A gripping thriller and a moving portrait of a family struggling through tragedy, I Dreamed of Falling showcases Julia Dahl’s talent for using crime fiction to tell an immersive and unforgettable story. Dahl’s unflinching novel asks hard questions about love, regret, inequality, and the possibilities and the perils of forgiveness.

About Shreve Memorial Library

Shreve Memorial Library transforms Caddo Parish lives with resources, services and support to create a better world by focusing on developing young readers, sparking imaginations, encouraging curiosity, fostering connection, and providing comfortable places. Shreve Memorial Library’s 21-branch system is maintained by a parish-wide property tax millage to support the informational, educational and recreational needs of its constituents.  For more information, visitwww.shreve-lib.org, and like, follow and subscribe on social media channels including Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, Pinterest and YouTube. Dream, discover, do – Shreve Memorial Library and you!