Today’s libraries are much more than the hushed, enclosed, musty-smelling buildings we all remember from childhood; many public and school libraries now include innovative outdoor spaces, as well, for reading, learning and socializing. One way to bring patrons closer to nature while reading outdoors is to surround them with plants, trees and bushes housed in artistic metal planters.

Adding plants to an urban garden is often best achieved with the use of planters. They allow you to control the soil content, keep plants safe from foot traffic, and even add soil where there is none in the midst of a city space.