Spring is Here When the Tulips Bloom

Towards the end of March or the first week in April, the tulips bloom on the terrace in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens in Durham NC. Located near the entrance and below the road leading to the Chapel at Duke University, the 55 acres and four gardens include a wide variety of landscape styles and plants. Although the camellias and azaleas are beautiful, the tulips steal the show. The gardens opened in 1939.

The sloping entrance and gravel paths are somewhat of a handicap for wheelchairs, but there are routes around the steps. The education building at the entrance is often used for plant competitions and classes. I’ve seen special displays of orchids, camellias, and mums.

The gardens are free, but you pay for parking because it is an issue across campus. The nearby Nasher Art Museum also requires pay parking. You can walk to the gardens from the Quad, but it will be a rather long hike, and you will have lots of steps. Parking on the Quad is restricted to students, faculty, and limited handicap slots.

The gardens are too extensive to tour on one trip unless you’re an athlete. The wooded gardens are cool in the summer, and the grand lawn is full on a sunny winter day. The red Japanese bridge across the creek is a favorite photo location.

Several members of the Duke family contributed not only to the University and the Foundation but also to the gardens.

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