Discovery Gardens: Our Library’s Living Landscape
Mission and Goals
The Goal of our Discovery Gardens is to create a sense of destination, discovery, education, and reflection for all. Our outdoor landscape provides multiple spaces for multi-sensory experiences, dynamic and performative exhibitions, and library programs.
Discovery Gardens will be implemented in stages that incorporate support, sponsorship and a sense of ownership to our community members.
Community sponsorship will make a significant impact on our continuing efforts to create a welcoming outdoor space. Our Discovery Gardens Sponsorship form details ways you can support the gardens with signs, benches, trees and shrubs in your name. General donations for improving and maintaining the gardens are welcome as well. For other generous donations or sponsorships please email Erin at outreach@hamptonfallslibrary.org.
Garden Rooms in Discovery Gardens
Conservation Garden: The Conservation Garden features native plants to our local area, as well as regional and naturalized beneficial plants. Completed Summer 2025 in partnership with Hampton Falls Conservation Committee.
Storywalk Garden Path: The Storywalk Path encourages people of all ages to walk while enjoying wonderful children’s books. Pages from books selected by our Youth Librarian are installed in frames along the Storywalk Path so that the book is enjoyed during a walk through the outdoor landscape. Path completed Summer 2025.
Sponsor a beautiful sign with your name on the plaque, visible along the Storywalk Path. Click here for Sponsorship Donation Form
Historic Border Garden: Well-known and documented native plants have been used to border the East School Museum creating an Historic Border Garden of plants growing in the area at the time of the founding of Hampton Falls. The Garden creates a sense of what gardens were like and used for in the early days of our town. Border installation completed Fall 2025, with additional plaques and plants to be added in the future by the Hampton Falls Historical Society.
Sensory Garden: The Sensory Garden promotes the awareness and education of human interaction within nature by using our five senses in this special outdoor garden. Sense experiences here will include: Sound (water, wind, birdsong), Sight (color, texture, movement), Smell (aromatic plants), Touch (plant textures), and Taste (herbs and edibles). Planned installation in 2026.
Reflection Garden: This outdoor space will allow the visitor to be immersed in nature and reflect on a passage from a favorite book or life events in a garden that is safe, comforting and restorative. This garden will offer a chance to “Linger Awhile” amid garden structures: benches, gazebo, water feature, walking paths and lighting. Planned installation in 2026.
Reading Garden: We will rehabilitate our existing patio to be a garden area inviting and conducive to relaxing with a good book. Planned installation in 2026.
“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” – Cicero
Your donation to the Library’s Discovery Gardens will help in our efforts to create a welcoming outdoor community space! Online donations will be made through the Friends of the Hampton Falls Library, our dedicated non-profit organization that supports and enriches library programs. Please click on “Use this donation for” and select Garden to designate your donation. If you would like your donation to support a specific initiative, please fill out the sponsorship form. Thank you for your support!
