Off the Shelf: Spring cleaning is optional!

Spring has arrived on the Olympic Peninsula, and whether you’re working in the yard or inside planning your summer garden, exploring a new trail or doing some spring cleaning, the library has plenty of resources to support and inspire you this season.

If your garden is calling to you, check out “Growing Heirloom Flowers: Bring the Vintage Beauty of Heritage Blooms to Your Modern Garden” by Chris McLaughlin or “Vegetables Love Flowers: Companion Planting for Beauty and Bounty” by Lisa Mason Ziegler.

“Victory Gardens for Bees: A DIY Guide to Saving the Bees” by Lori Weidenhammer offers 10 garden plans for bee-friendly and beautiful projects. These titles are great for seasoned growers and those who are new to growing.

If you’re anything like me, after opening the windows and welcoming some spring inside the house, you may find yourself motivated to work on a deep cleaning, tidying or letting go of things you’re no longer using. “Simply Clean: The Proven Method for Keeping Your Home Organized, Clean and Beautiful in Just 10 Minutes a Day” by Becky Rapinchuk or “Decluttering at the Speed of Life: Winning Your Never-Ending Battle with Stuff” by Dana White can help you with your household goals.

If you’re ready to explore beyond your backyard, consider checking out “100 Classic Hikes: Washington” by Craig Romano. Eighteen of the featured hikes are located on the Olympic Peninsula, Whidbey Island and San Juan Islands. The library offers laminated folded topographic maps for check out, to help stay on the right trail as you adventure around the Olympic Peninsula. For coastal explorations, check out “Pacific Seaweeds: A Guide to Common Seaweeds of the West Coast” by Louis Druehl.

‘Yes, You Can!’

For all-around inspiration, stop by the Sequim Library for “Yes, You Can!” at 6 p.m. Thursday, April 18, to listen to Lin Bruce speak.

Bruce is a late blooming, against-the-odds cross country cyclist, whose first transcontinental ride was in honor of her 60th birthday in 1999. In the years since then, she has crossed the U.S. four times and bicycled from Northfield, Minn., to Cheyenne, Wyo., to attend her 50th and 60th high school reunions, among other adventures.

Lin lives by her motto, “It’s never too late to say ‘Yes’ to bigger things!”

The talk is free and everyone is welcome.

For more

Whatever your focus this spring, the library can help support you in your goals. There are books and DVDs about fitness, healthy eating and lifestyle, hiking, traveling, exploring the world and re-inventing your home space. Spring cleaning is optional.

Stop by and see the friendly staff at the Sequim Library at 630 N. Sequim Ave., call 360-683-1161 or visit www.nols.org.

Emily Sly is manager at the North Olympic Library’s Sequim Library branch.