The Enchanted Garden is a sustainable, community-based teaching garden for all ages that serves as a venue for:

• Community health and wellness through physical activity and intergenerational connections

• Hands-on demonstrations and participation for all ages focusing on growing and eating healthy, local food

• Environmental science and nutrition education classes that include sustainability topics to complement the building’s LEED certification features

(such as the green roof, rain gardens, solar energy, and storm water management)

• Youth gardens; school gardens; community gardeners; families; and junior Master Gardener classes uszing and maintaining planting areas

• Partnerships with county, state, local community and education organizations to provide expertise, support and instruction involving a natural, outdoor setting promoting healthy family activities

Vision:  Growing Healthy Habits

A quarter-acre parcel adjacent to the Children's area, the Enchanted Garden’s primary focus is a teaching garden.

The demonstration gardening area features a variety of vegetables, herbs, and flowers planted in raised beds. Come visit our Stir Fry Garden, Peter Rabbit Patch, Multisensory Garden, Herbal Apothecary Garden, and Pizza Garden to see what we have planted.

Children are more interested in eating vegetables and fruits when they participate in growing them. Providing our children an environmental and nutritional education while instilling a love of nature is the best way to inspire them to be the stewards of our future.

Garden design by Oasis Design Group and Live Green Landscape Associates, LLC.


Get Involved:

The garden is a community-based teaching garden and we are thankful for the partnership and support of so many organizations and individuals that have collaborated with HCLS.

Learn more about the donation opportunities at the Enchanted Garden...

Garden Brochure (PDF)

Who is involved?


Recent Press:

Columbia Patch.com - Howard County Library Asks How Does Your Enchanted Garden Grow

Baltimore Sun Sept. 2011


If you have any questions, please contact:
Rita Hamlet
Howard County Library System
6600 Cradlerock Way
Columbia, MD 21045
Phone: 410.313.7799