Mary Abercrombie, Class of 2020 and Environmental Outreach & Engagement Coordinator, City of McKinney
Books & Blooms, a new passive engagement program that reimagines Little Free Libraries as vibrant community touchpoints for ecological literacy and neighborhood beauty.
Our very first Books & Blooms installation is now blooming at the Green Gardens of McKinney at Gabe Nesbitt Park, and we couldn’t have asked for a better partner to bring this pilot to life than Paulette Platko, local artist, garden steward, and Texas Master Naturalist with the Blackland Prairie Chapter.
Paulette is a force of nature, literally and figuratively! Over the past year, she has transformed the Green Gardens from a bare patch of land into a bold, beautiful oasis bursting with native plants and pollinators. She teaches children about composting, pollinators, and prairie plants with infectious enthusiasm and deep knowledge, leaving a lasting impact on every visitor. Her leadership and creativity have made her an irreplaceable asset to the McKinney community. Paulette hand-painted the first Books & Blooms library box, wrapping it in monarch-inspired artwork that invites curiosity and wonder. Inside the library, visitors find:
Ecologically-themed books for all ages, from picture books to field guides,
Free native seeds, curated to encourage native gardening and pollinator support,
Empty seed envelopes to take home, fill, and return, keeping the garden conversation growing.
Paulette’s installation brings together everything Books & Blooms stands for. Literacy rooted in place, the power of native gardening, and the joy of a community sharing knowledge, beauty, and growth.
Come visit the Green Gardens of McKinney to see Paulette’s stunning creation, pick up a book or some seeds, and witness firsthand how one person can turn an empty space into something big, beautiful, and bold. You can volunteer with Paulette every Thursday morning or come by on a Last Saturday Workday! Both postings are available in the BPTMN calendar and all are welcome to join.
We are endlessly grateful for Paulette Platko, artist, educator, gardener, and community hero!
