Branch Manager Jill Brooks reached out to the Archway Partnership for help designing an educational sign for the butterfly garden located on the Main Street side of the Thomson-McDuffie Library. The garden, planted with native species, often draws complaints during the winter months when the plants go dormant and appear less tidy to passersby.
Joey Starling presents a concept for the Thomson-McDuffie Library pollinator garden
UGA College of Environment and Design student Joey Starling took on the design challenge, creating a sign that helps visitors understand the garden’s seasonal life cycle and its importance to local pollinators. To support his research, Archway Professional Sarah Adams coordinated a field trip for Joey and fellow student Anna Pham, who was working on a related project, to visit the State Botanical Gardens. There, they consulted with Jason Young, Director of Horticulture. As a bonus to his project, Joey also provided a revised planting plan aimed at simplifying the garden’s layout and improving its visual appeal throughout the year.
In connection with the pollinator garden sign project, Graphic Design Graduate Assistant Anna Pham designed a mural to cover the library building’s north-facing wall. Spanning 90 feet long and roughly 15 feet high, the mural reflects hours of careful research and multiple community site visits.
Anna visited the State Botanical Gardens to consult with Jason Young, Director of Horticulture, where she explored native flora and studied how different colors and textures shift across the winter months. She also traveled to McDuffie County to visit White Hills Farm, a lavender farm owned by Amy and Patrick Sutter. Amy gave Anna a personal tour of both the farm and her workshop, where she harvests and processes different varieties of lavender for products and community events. The experience left a clear mark on Anna’s design.
Anna Pham presents her concept for a mural at the Thomson-McDuffie Library
In the final mural, Anna wove together many of the themes from Joey’s educational signage, incorporating a large-scale depiction of seasonal transition to subtly teach the public about the role of native plants and pollinators in the local ecosystem.