SARAH P. DUKE GARDENS, Durham, NC: The Tranquility of Nature on a Summer's Day

Terraced gardens. Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham, NC

From traditional garden flowers to native trees and plants, the Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham, North Carolina, offers a plethora of opportunities to appreciate the beauty of nature. Paths meander down shaded paths, around a small lake, through formal planted garden beds, and across grassy lawns. 

Guide to the Sarah P. Duke Gardens.

I recently toured the garden when I was visiting family in nearby Chapel Hill, NC. It was a warm summer day—quite hot in the full sun, but pleasant as long as we stayed in the shade.

Shaded walkway at the garden entrance makes one feel immersed in an Impressionist painting.

After parking and purchasing our tickets, we entered at the gate and proceeded to the rose garden, and from there to the terraced gardens that are part of the Historic Gardens where the Duke Gardens began in 1934. From there we followed trails to the Asiatic Arboretum, which features plants from Southeast Asia. Then, finally, we toured the Garden of Native Plants with its wildlife garden, carnivorous plant collection, and bird viewing shelter.

Purple cone flowers (Echinacea).

It was hard to resist taking photos. Here are a few favorites:

Lily pond at Azalea Court.

Close-up of lily reveals its bizarre cone shaped center.

Shrine with view of lake and Meyer Bridge

Meyer Bridge in the W.L. Culberson Asiatic Arboretum

A shaded bench in the native plant garden invites visitors to rest and enjoy the view.

A carnivorous plant opens its "jaws", waiting for its next victim.

A bee gathers nectar from an appropriately named beebalm (Lamiacea) blossom. Also called bergamot.

Snowballs the size of melons were in their full glory.

Every day is different at the garden, depending on the weather and time of year. On our visit we enjoyed the height of the summer bloom. The garden is open year round.

Sundial: "Nothing is worth more than this day."

For information about visiting the Duke Gardens, click here: https://gardens.duke.edu/visit