Chescolibraries Native Gardens

The Chester County Library has a new native plant 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.

The Chester County Library Native 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.

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.