The Seed Library
Pick up free seeds to start your vegetable, herb, or flower garden free! The Indianapolis Public Library Seed Library is available at all our locations during regular branch hours from late March through September. One packet of each type of seed per household. In addition to free seeds, check out resources and attend workshops about growing and using plants from your seeds. We provide materials and programs to make gardening in Indianapolis a doable goal for beginners.
Tune in online for a a Gardening Storytime – a great way to read up on beginning gardening projects for kids. For kids, gardening offers a way to get messy and watch the payoff for their hard work, in the form of growing veggies and beautiful flowers. You can say, “Hey! I grew the thing! Look at the thing that I grew! Isn’t it pretty?” Imagine the Instagram fun!
Programs
- Event: Gardening Group at West Perry
- Date & Time: Friday, March 20, 10:15am
- Location: West Perry Branch
- Description: Gardens are essentially a place of sharing and gardeners know that we learn a lot from each other–whether you’re just starting or experienced. Sessions will feature a time of introductions & Q&A, a seasonal topic discussed, resources–like our Seed Library–and connections with other gardeners.
- Register Here
- Event: Gardening for Birds
- Date & Time: Saturday, March 21, 10:30am
- Location: Lawrence Branch
- Description: Learn how to transform your yard into a sanctuary for both wildlife and conservation with Indiana Audubon.
- Register Here
- Event: Gardening for Birds
- Date & Time: Saturday, March 21, 10:30am
- Rescheduled Date & Time: Saturday, March 21, 10:30am
- Location: Lawrence Branch
- Description: Learn how to transform your yard into a sanctuary for both wildlife and conservation with Indiana Audubon.
- Register Here
- Event: Gardening in Shade
- Date & Time: Monday, March 23, 6:00pm
- Location: Michigan Road Branch
- Description: Go beyond hosta! A well-designed shade garden is every bit as beautiful as a sunny border and a whole lot cooler in August. This workshop covers design strategies for the shady garden, shade-specific plant recommendations, management techniques, and more.
- Register Here
- Event: Edible Landscaping
- Date & Time: Friday, March 27, 2:00pm
- Location: East 38th Street Branch
- Description: Join Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp for a savory, tasteful look at some of the ways to grow edible plants in the landscape for their food and beauty.
- Register Here
- Event: New Plants for the Landscape & Containers
- Date & Time: Saturday, March 28, 2:00pm
- Location: Southport Branch
- Description: Join Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp to get a sneak peek at some of the new annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, edibles, and more that will soon be on the market. Also includes some of the best new plants from the last couple of years.
- Register Here
View on Demand
Learn on Demand Video: Seed Saving
Join Anika Williams from the Pike Branch of The Indianapolis Public Library as she harvests milkweed seeds on site and discusses the Seed Library available there.
Reading Recommendations from our Staff
Browse these featured staff book lists to help improve your gardening in Indianapolis skills. See all our gardening book lists.
Gardening in Indianapolis Resources
Follow Purdue Extension, one of the best ways to learn about gardening in Indiana. Browse their recommended online resources:
- Free Gardening Docs from Purdue Extension Purdue also has a fine YouTube channel with informative videos. As always, the Extension’s information is tailored specifically for Hoosier gardeners.
Gardening for Kids
- Gardening Storytime Online
- Plants for Kids Book List – Experiments and Activities for Backyard Botanists
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