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Sarah P Duke Gardens

4.8 (385 reviews)
Closed 9:00 am - 7:00 pm
Updated 1 month ago

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On-site management services

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Natalie R.

Went in the off season on a slightly rainy day. Found it to still be lovely. It was quiet, plenty of nice trails, restrooms clean. Great selection of plants and everything well labeled.

Skye A.

There is construction going on around the entrance. I'm not sure what it normally looks like, but there was a parking lot where you pay for parking via a mobile app. The garden itself is free and located on the Duke University campus. There are lots of trails throughout the garden area and places to walk. There are also restrooms in several locations inside. Don't sell yourself short and use the port-a-potties at the entrance. I saw a lot of benches and places to sit as well as spots to have a picnic. I really loved the Burpee garden growing with a list of what's planted. They also had a compost area where you could see the different stages of the process. Mind the smell!! I really liked it here. It was a nice place to walk around and relax!

Whitney T.

This is such a beautiful garden to visit! We went during the cherry blossom season (or more so towards the end of it) and it is such a pleasant place to be. It is free to go since there is no fee for admission, but depending on where you park, you may have to pay for parking so be prepared to pay online for parking. The park is well maintained and full of natural life that it feels like a small bit of nature in the midst of a growing big city. There are beautiful areas of life from small ponds to flowers and trees, a tea garden, and an open field where you will find people having small picnics at. It is a great place to go to if you are looking for a small slice of nature, meeting up with friends, or just a place to slow down.

Garden
Jennifer E.

A lovely place that everyone should make time to visit when in the areas. The parking is a bit of a mess at the moment as they expand and improve. The main entrance is only accessibly by foot. However, on the weekend there is a large parking lot that had signs that stated you could park there and go to the garden. It was unclear to me if you needed to pay for the parking lot. It is large garden, and you could spend many hours there. It was a lovely way to spend half a day. Garden is free to enter and had volunteers at the entrance on a Saturday to tell you about the garden.

Mher M.

They live stream the blooms of the cherry trees so it's super helpful for planning when to go. They even put up a photo contest during the season, making it fun for a lot of fans. My first time to come here and I'm glad I convinced friends to visit. I've been wanting to see the cherry blossoms since moving to NC in '22 and finding out they have it closer to where I'm at than D.C. We arrived late in the afternoon and there's still a lot of foot traffic coming and leaving. It must be real crazy crowded had we gone earlier in the day. Luckily, our timing was perfect since my friends brought their dog and pets aren't allowed before 5 pm. Paid about $2+ per hour for parking and probably didn't need to. Seems like it should be free after 7, but still worth it. The blooms were white. I'm not sure if that's because of the variety, or if they turned pink when they matured. We didn't get to the allee since they cut the line and didn't allow us to get closer anymore when it was about to get dark. It was already dark by the time I got back. We still enjoyed the rest of the garden - the tulips, koi fish, ducks in the pond, wooden bench, red bridge, big trees, wide open grassy field, etc. Would love to come back and spend more time in this garden!

Spencer L.

Absolutely beautiful garden to explore and relax! This is a large garden with many beautiful plant displays. It's free to enter due to the donations received from donors. I would highly recommend spending an afternoon here to unwind!

Sandy G.

Located in Durham, North Carolina near the Duke University. First of all it is FREE and there is no Fee to enter the premises. There is sufficient parking at the entrance but you will need to pay for Parking. Do wear comfy shoes, there's lots of area to cover and could easily take up to 2-3 hours. Beautiful and calming experience. The garden itself is breathtaking. Amazing for Photo Opportunities.

David H.

Expansive free series of gardens that are a must see if you're ever on the Duke campus or in the Durham area. There are several different areas including an interesting Japanese garden area and a large area featuring native Carolina plants and trees. You could spend all day here and not be able to see everything. It's worth checking out and I'd come back here if I'm ever back on the Duke campus.

Nap
Christina T.

Beautiful gardens at Duke University. While we came in the dead of winter, it was still nice to walk through the gardens and I was surprised the vegetable garden was still going strong. There are a few main sections, including the Asian botanical garden, Sarah Duke Garden that has the vegetable garden (which they use to feed the local Durham community), and woodlands area. Note that some areas were temporarily closed due to construction. We really liked the Asian botanical garden and appreciated the benches by the lake. Admission is free and parking is $2 an hour. Great spot to take family when you're in Durham.

Kayla W.

Such a beautiful place... could spend all day here! I love that it's free but can be hard to find nearby parking. Lots of people bring food for a picnic which is a great idea. There's such a wide variety of plant species

Bamboo
Lisa L.

Beautiful! These gardens are absolutely beautiful this fall. When you enter the visitor center there is someone sitting at the desk with maps that can answer all of your questions. When you go out into the gardens, they have markers for those of us that are directionally challenged. Everywhere you turn you'll see something you weren't expecting. Take your time and explore nature in this beautiful spot. They offer paid parking.

Mari T.

What a beautiful garden. The garden is located in Duke University. The garden is free admission. The parking is only $2 per hour so it is worth to take a stroll around the garden. We stayed about an hour and 15 mins. We almost walked everywhere except the Duke Chapel. We found out we can't drive through it. It is part of garden experience. You have to walk through the gate and come back. Overall, it is lovely and peaceful place to sit and relax on a sunny day.

Flower
Jeff D.

Beautiful place to take a date for an afternoon stroll. Wonderful landscaping with plenty to look at. This is a great place to take a family picture or romantic one with your loved one. What are you waiting for, get out and enjoy these beautiful gardens! Do you like the pictures?

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Beautiful scenery. I went one time when it said it was open but the gates were closed unfortunately

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There are a lot of nice spots where you can stop and have a picnic so make sure you bring something with you.

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Durham Central Park - Durham Farmers' Market at Durham Central Park on Saturday, November 12, 2022.

Durham Central Park

(24 reviews)

As my family and I were visiting my sister, we had heard that Durham Central Park was hosting a…read moreReggae Event. We decided to go to get a taste of the Caribbean in the South. We arrived and there was a live DJ playing Dancehall and Reggae, which had a great selection of music. There were tents and food trucks around the perimeter which had long lines and for good reason. There was good food and great merchants which my sister bought a shirt and I got a bucket hat with the Panamanian flag on it. My sister told me that there were a couple events being hosted in the coming weeks. I would definitely return when I go visit my sister.

Downtown Durham is cool and Durham Central Park is a big reason why. When I think of Durham Central…read morePark, I mainly think of The Pavilion and Foster Street, which hosts the Durham Farmers' Market (https://www.yelp.com/biz/durham-farmers-market-durham), and the adjacent public greenspace, playground, and skate park located between Foster Street and Rigsbee Avenue. However, Durham Central Park extends well beyond that. It's really a neighborhood, encompassing some of the coolest spots in the city. Aside from the aforementioned farmers' market, highlights at Central Park for me have included: * Boxcar Bar & Arcade: https://www.yelp.com/biz/boxcar-bar-arcade-durham * Durham Food Hall: https://www.yelp.com/biz/durham-food-hall-durham * Foster Street Coffee: https://www.yelp.com/biz/foster-street-coffee-durham Additionally, my wife and her co-residents are big fans of: * The Glass Jug (bar): https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-glass-jug-durham-3 There's also a lot of great stuff around Central Park like: * M Sushi: https://www.yelp.com/biz/m-sushi-durham * Pizzeria Toro: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pizzeria-toro-durham * The Blue Note Grill (barbecue and live music): https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-blue-note-grill-durham-2 * The Parlour (ice cream): https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-parlour-durham-2 * Viceroy (Indian restaurant): https://www.yelp.com/biz/viceroy-durham My wife likes to get her hair cut and styled at: * Rock Paper Scissors Salon: https://www.yelp.com/biz/rock-paper-scissors-salon-and-gallery-durham-2 The neighborhood also includes the DAP (Durham Athletic Park), former home of the Minor League Durham Bulls baseball team. According to artwork on the south side of the Liberty Warehouse Apartments, Durham Central Park was established in 2001. The Pavilion opened in 2007. There's lots of amazing public art in the neighborhood too. The municipal space is ideal for events like the farmers' market, festivals, live entertainment, food trucks, etc. It's perfect for the community.

DesignScapes

DesignScapes

(1 review)

Every house I move to, the first person I call is Susan. She does a fabulous job of giving the…read moregarden structure but still allows flexibility for me to plant as I wish. I love to garden but do not have a designers mind. Her designs have interest year round with beautiful fall colors, winter having enough evergreens to make it look good when everything else is gone and of course spring/summer is gorgeous. If you have existing plants you want to keep, Susan can put those in the plan and integrate them with everything else. Susan is super responsive and has a great, respectful crew for installation. At this house they also installed a drip system to help get the plants settled in. We had a massive swing set in the backyard with gravel under it. They dug the gravel out and brought in amendments - 10 years later it looks wonderful. You won't regret working with Susan!

From the owner: As the Triangle's only custom landscaping residential specialist, DesignScapes provides unique…read morelandscaping services. We offer an exceptionally high quality of service that focuses on each clients individual needs. We will plan and implement the perfect garden for your home and lifestyle. Our services begin with a complimentary consultation and include: -Design -Installation of Trees, Plants and Sod -Specialty Gardens -Patios, walkways and walls -Natural Stone and pavers -Water gardens It is important to us that you love your new landscape. That's why all of DesignScapes' landscaping services are guaranteed. From initial consultation to final installation, our landscaping professionals are with you all the way. As a DesignScapes client, you'll receive a new landscape that will grow, flourish and provide you with years of immeasurable joy, while adding value to your home.

Sarah P Duke Gardens - gardens - Updated May 2026

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