The Sarah P. Duke Gardens is 55 acres located in the middle of Duke University's west campus.  Recognized as one of the premier public gardens in the United States, its landscape design and the quality of horticulture is truly amazing and each year attracts more than 300,000 visitors from all over the world.

The gardens are open everyday of the year from 8:00AM to dusk and are free to the public with breath taking varieties of plants and color in every season.  The gardens are divided into four sections:  The Culberson Asiatic Arbortetum, The Terrance Gardens,  The Doris Duke Center Garden, The H. L. Blomquist Garden of Native Plants. 

Guided walks are also available of the gardens by reservation for $5 (free to Friends of The Gardens members and Duke University employees and students).  You can also rent the gardens for special occasions such as weddings and is an wonderful place to bring out-of-town visitors to see.  Duke Gardens also offers a large variety of events including photography classes, Japanese tea ceremonies, music concerts and more.

During weekdays and on weekend afternoons you must pay to park at the Gardens, but after 5PM on weekdays and before 1PM on weekends parking is free.  For detailed written directions to the gardens, visit this page of their website:  http://www.hr.duke.edu/dukegardens/directionstext.htm

 Photo by Joe MeccaPhoto by Joe MeccaPhoto by Joe Mecca