EXTON, PA – The Chester County Library has unveiled a new native garden, funded by the Chester County Library Trust through the generosity of Richard Hankin and Ada Brainsky. Designed by EcoLandscapes, the project transforms a large section of turf into a biodiverse habitat supporting pollinators, birds, and local wildlife.
This is the first of two native‑plant projects funded by Hankin and Brainsky. A second garden will be installed in the fall of 2026 at the Henrietta Hankin Branch Library in Chester Springs, the library named in honor of Richard’s mother.
A Community‑Rooted Vision
Richard and Ada’s interest in native gardening began at their home garden, where a friend who works at Natural Lands encouraged Ada to consider planting species that support the local ecosystem. Inspired by all this information, Ada began reading the work of Dr. Douglas Tallamy, University of Delaware professor and co‑founder of Homegrown National Park, whose research demonstrates how native plants sustain insect and bird populations.
As their gardens flourished, neighbors stopped by to ask questions, and children began noticing caterpillars returning to the landscape. When Richard received a citation from the Chester County Library Trust in 2025 for his years of service, he and Ada chose to use their donation to help bring native‑plant education to the library community.
About the Garden
The new landscape features a keystone oak tree capable of supporting more than 900 species, along with goldenrods, asters, dogwoods, witchhazel, cherries and other variants of berries that fruit throughout the year, and milkweed for monarch butterflies. The design incorporates “soft landings”—areas where leaves remain in place to provide essential overwintering habitat for fireflies, moths, and butterflies.
Designed for Biodiversity
Landscape designer Daniel Cleary of EcoLandscapes describes the project as a blend of ecological purpose and public‑space design:
“Ada and Richard asked me to create a native, naturalistic landscape to replace the turf — a big goal to increase biodiversity, expand pollinator and bird habitat, and provide a showpiece for native plantings as an alternative to traditional turf and shrub landscaping. For the library, I softened the style slightly with more massing, height gradation, and smaller plants along the edges to create definition. But ultimately, it remains a naturalized, living landscape — colorful, changing, and full of native plants.”
Cleary noted that many patrons approached him during installation to express excitement about the new space and its future blooms. The garden will evolve over several seasons, following the native‑garden pattern of “sleep, creep, leap.”
Why Native Plants Matter
Native plants are indigenous to southeastern Pennsylvania and have evolved alongside local wildlife over thousands of years. As donors Richard Hankin and Ada Brainsky note, “This garden was planted with species that belong here — grown from the same soil, climate, and history as the wildlife of Chester County.”
Native plants support caterpillars, bees, and other pollinators; provide food and shelter recognized by local wildlife; improve soil and filter rainwater; and thrive without pesticides or synthetic fertilizers. Once established, they require very little irrigation because they are adapted to local rainfall. Even a few native plants in a yard or container can help strengthen local habitat corridors.
A Growing Commitment to Sustainability
The Chester County Library Trust’s support reflects a commitment to ecological stewardship and community education. The new garden will serve as a living demonstration of how native plants can replace conventional turf, reduce chemical use, and create a vibrant habitat. The upcoming project this fall at the Henrietta Hankin Branch will expand this vision and honor the Hankin family’s legacy.
About EcoLandscapes
EcoLandscapes specializes in naturalistic, native‑plant garden design with a focus on biodiversity, ecological function, and artistic expression.
Website: ecolandscapesdesign.com; Instagram: @Ecolandscapes_design; Email: [email protected]
