Sarah P. Duke Gardens, Durham, NC

Durham, North Carolina is one of the three cities in the Research Triangle. Durham has the fourth largest population in the state. The city has grown because of its proximity to Duke University, the medical facilities, NCAA sports and its diverse cultural offerings. This area employs over 80,000 people between the University and the Research Triangle Park. While there are some reminders of the tobacco hey day with a Lucky Strike water tower and smoke stack, the main focus of Durham today is medicine. Bio tech, pharmaceuticals and other similar fields make up the Research Triangle,while there are five main hospitals that include the Duke University Medical Center.

There are many attractions that bring visitors to Durham, NC. One of the most beautiful and popular is the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. The gardens are incorporated in to the west section of Duke University. The area encompasses approximately 55 acres. These areas are wooded acres and landscaped gardens. Ellen B. Shipman is credited with designing the Italianate terraces that are the most integral part of the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. A pergola at the entrance is wrapped with wisteria.

Guests will find many different species of plants throughout the gardens. Very distinct sections provide the visitor with native plants from several area of the world. The Blomquist Garden of Native Plants presents an abundance of over 900 selections of wildflowers. Twenty acres are devoted to Asian Arboretum. Here guests can find more than 550 Asian plantings featuring magnolias and Japanese maples.

The Sarah P. Duke Gardens is open between 8:00 am and dusk. If visitors want to see The Doris Duke Center, it is open from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm Monday - Saturday, and Sunday from 12:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Visitors will find this facility closed on the following major holidays: New Year's Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

While there is no charge to view the gardens, guests may take a trolley tour for a fee of twenty five dollars. Five people will fit in the trolley and they need to be booked at least one week in advance. This tour will last approximately forty five minutes. Much of the Sarah P. Duke Gardens are accessible by wheelchair. However, guests need to be aware that there are some steps and loose gravel that won't accommodate them.

A cafy is on the grounds of the gardens. The Terrace Cafy serves salads, sandwiches, cold drinks, snacks and coffee. It may be closed at certain times of the year, but when it is open their hours are Monday through Friday 11:00 am to 3:00 pm, Saturday 10:00 am to 4:00 pm and Sunday 12:00 to 4:00pm.

There is a gift shop where visitors can purchase planters, ceramics, jewelry and flags for personal gardens. The gardens offer many children's programs. Some of them are through their schools and others are public programs, camps and family oriented. Sarah P. Duke Gardens offer a variety of opportunities for visitors to Durham, NC.