Volunteers Ellen Balestri and Carolee Watts have transformed the wildflower garden at the Portola Branch Library.

They began the project several weeks ago by pulling the weeds and preparing the soil with a compost mix. The area does not have a sprinkler system, so they planted low-water usage perennials alongside existing grape hyacinths, lavender and California poppies.

They added more color by planting pincushions, columbines, coreopsis, magenta lychnis, gaura, catmint, sea pinks and snow-in-summer. Several river rocks were added for ornamentation.

Check out the Portola Library to see the beautiful results. It’s also a good time to get a library card and see what’s available — beyond traditional books, patrons can find e-books, books on CD, movies and magazines.

The library is open Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 to 6 p.m.; and Thursday from noon to 4 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.