Duke Gardens events: Jan.-Aug. 2012

Sarah P. Duke Gardens’ new education guide is now online. The PDF includes class descriptions, instructor information, meeting times/locations and fees for all classes between January and August 2012.

Below is a quick rundown of the season’s offerings, including page numbers where you can find more information. Please also see our education/events page with links to different types of classes and events and information about how to register.

As always, we welcome your feedback and suggestions for our enrichment programs. We hope to see you here soon!

Children and Family Classes

Mysteries of Magnetism (Feb. 25) – pg. 6

Nature’s Kazoos (March 10) – pg. 5 (canceled)

Nature Storytime: Free Drop-in Book Club (March 15, April 7, May 5, May 17, June 2, and June 21) – pg. 7

Wind World (March 24) – pg. 5

Nature Ranger Cart: Free Drop-in Activities (Fridays, April, May, and June) – pg. 7

Nature for Sprouts (Fridays, April 6-27 or May 4-25) – pg. 7

Feathered Friends (April 7) – pg. 5

Nature for Sprouts (Fridays, April 6-27 or May 4-25) – pg. 4

Nature Adventures Camp: CAMP OUT! (April 9-13) – pg. 8

Spring Family Fun: Free Drop-in Activities (April 15 & 29, May 6 & 20) – pg. 7

Heroes and Villains (April 25) – pg. 6

Drip Drop: Be a Raindrop for a Day (April 28) – pg. 5

Seed and Soil Olympics (May 5) – pg. 6

Awesome Amoebas (May 26) – pg. 6

Paperhand Puppet Intervention (June 10) – pg. 7. Canceled by the artists. Sorry.

Nature Adventures Camp: Become a Scientist (June 11-15) – pg. 8

Nature Adventures Camp: Treasure Hunters (June 18-22) – pg. 8

Nature Adventures Camp: Science of the Sun (June 18-22) – pg. 8

Nature Adventures Camp: Animal Homes (June 25-29) – pg. 9

Nature Adventures Camp: Animals in the Garden (June 25-29) – pg. 9

Nature Adventures Camp: Treasure Hunters 2 (July 9-13) – pg. 9

Nature Adventures Camp: Time Travelers (July 9-13) – pg. 9

Nature Adventures Camp: Drawing on Nature (Aug. 6-10 and/or Aug. 13-17) – pg. 9

Gardening and Horticulture

Ikebana International club (2nd Monday monthly) – pg. 24

Triangle Orchid Society (2nd Monday monthly) – pg. 24

Durham Garden Forum: “A Garden of Moss” (Jan. 17) – pg. 18

Planting the Landscape: Design II (3 Tuesdays, Jan. 17-31) – pg. 14

Plants of Distinction: Winter/Spring (Jan. 18, March 7, May 16, July 18) – pg. 14

Vegetable Gardening Through the Year (3 Thursdays, Jan. 19-Feb. 2; March 22-April 5) – pg. 15

Gardening with Herbs (Jan. 22; part of the Master Gardeners’ Extension Gardener Series) – pg. 19
Beekeeping for Beginners (2 Saturdays, Feb. 4-11) – pg. 15

Durham Garden Forum: “Great Perennials for the Garden Bed” (Feb. 21) – pg. 18

Native Plants in our Gardens (Feb. 26; part of the Master Gardeners’ Extension Gardener Series) – pg. 19

Spring Flower Walk in the Arboretum (March 9 and/or April 13) – pg. 13

Container Gardening (March 18; part of the Master Gardeners’ Extension Gardener Series) – pg. 19

Durham Garden Forum: “Herb Gardening” (March 20) – pg. 18

Historic Gardens Color Walk (April 5 and/or May 3) – pg. 13

Lecture: "Across the Pond: A Celebration of 300 Years of Anglo-American Gardening" (April 5) – pg. 16

Spring Pruning (April 7) – pg. 16

Durham Garden Forum: “Vegetables as Ornament” (April 17) – pg. 18

Durham Garden Forum: “Introduction to Plant Propagation” (May 15) – pg. 18

Japanese Gardens in the U.S.: Growing from Cultural Outreach to Community Restoration (May 15, 7-9 p.m.; newly added program).

Durham Garden Forum: “Garden Advice Fair” (July 17) – pg. 18

Durham Garden Forum: “Creating New Plants” (June 19) – pg. 18

Field Trips

Early Spring Jewels: Field Studies (March 31) – pg. 28

Local Flora: Spring (4 Saturdays, April 7, 14, 28, May 5) – pg. 29

Wildflowers and Waterfalls (May 11-13) – pg. 20

Hemlock Bluff (June 3) – pg. 21

Botanical Art and Craft

Moss Gardens in a Dish (Jan. 21) – pg. 25

Creating Your Own Bonsai Plant (Feb. 18) – pg. 25

Designing with Flowers (6 Saturdays, Feb. 25-March 31) – pg. 26

Spring Flower Basket (April 5) – pg. 25

Creativity and Choice: Floral Design Studio (canceled) – pg. 26

Terrarium (June 9) – pg. 26

Natural History

Walk on the Wild Side (Jan. 5, Feb. 2, March 1, April 5, May 3, June 7, July 5, Aug. 2) – pg. 13

Winter Botany (2 Saturdays, Jan. 21-28) – pg. 27

Human Impact on the Environment: The Ecology of Change (4 Wednesdays, Feb. 8-29) – pg. 27

Basic Botany and Plant Growth (4 Thursdays, Feb. 9-March 1) – pg. 28

Water: The Ecology of Change (4 Tuesdays, Feb. 21-March 13) – pg. 28

Early Spring Jewels: Field Studies (March 31) – pg. 28

Local Flora: Spring (4 Saturdays, April 7, 14, 28, May 5) – pg. 29

Bird Walks (April 7 & 28) – pg. 29

Nature Photography

Durham Photography Club (2nd Monday monthly) – pg. 24 (info on their Facebook page)

Digital Photography: Understanding Digital Camera, Camera to Computer & Photo Editing (3 Wednesdays, Jan. 18-Feb. 1) – pg. 31

Nature Photography Winter Workshop (Jan 28-29) – pg. 30

Introduction to Nature Photography (Feb. 10-12) – pg. 31

Photoshop for the Nature Photographer (3 Saturdays, Feb. 11-25) – pg. 31

Learn from the Masters (3 Saturdays, March 31-April 14) – pg. 32

Photographing Plants (2 Wednesdays, May 16 & 23, and Saturday, May 19) – pg. 32

Composition and Light (2 Thursdays, June 14 & 21, and Saturday, June 16) – pg. 32

Image Improvement Before Post-Processing (Saturday, June 23) – pg. 33

Photographing North Carolina (July 12, 7-9 p.m.; newly added program)

Japanese Tea Gatherings

First Voice of Spring Tea (Friday, Feb. 24) – pg. 34

St. Patrick’s Day Tea (Saturday, March 17) – pg. 34

Cherry Blossom Festival (Sunday, March 25) – pg. 34

Spring Blossoms Tea (Friday, April 13) – pg. 34

Children’s Day Tea (Saturday, May 5) – pg. 34

Special Events

Swing at the Gardens - swing dance (Saturday, Feb. 11)

Spring Plant Sale (Saturday, March 31, 8 a.m.-noon; Gardens member pre-sale, March 30)

Duke Performances' Music in the Gardens summer series (more info)

2011 notecards are here!

Duke Gardens' 2011 notecards are in, and they're available at the Terrace Shop -- a fantastic gift for your nature-loving friends and family.

The first four images below from our four main gardens come in a 12-pack of 4x6 cards for $10.

The final image is our winter scene, also a 4x6, which is available in packs of 10 for $10 or individually for $1.75.

All of the cards are blank inside.

You can also get our 2012 calendar, with scenes from all over the Gardens. It's only $10. Here's a preview PDF.

SALE! Duke students and employees can get our new cards and calendars for 20% off through Dec. 22.

For information, or for a mail order, please call the Terrace Shop at 919-684-9037.

We're grateful to the gifted photographers who have made these images available to us as a Gardens fundraiser. We hope you enjoy them, too.

The Terrace Gardens, as seen from the Frances P. Rollins Overlook
Photo by Rick Fisher

The Blomquist Gate House
Photo by Pat Lloyd

Roof iris and Japanese Kasuga lantern
in the Asiatic Arboretum
Photo by Paul D. Jones

Virtue Peace Pond in the Doris Duke Center Gardens
Photo by Robert Ayers

Japanese-style arched bridge
and Yukimi "snow-viewing" lantern
in the Asiatic Arboretum
Photo by Wendell Hull

Doris Duke Center Holiday Decorations

By Kate Blakely

If you're looking for some holiday joy, done up North Carolina-style, come see 2011's holiday tree display at the Doris Duke Center.

Every year local organizations decorate a tree by expanding on a given theme. The main theme this year is Material Wonders of North Carolina. Organization members offered their unique take on special North Carolina materials, from cotton to crystal.

The photos below showcase each tree. You can come see the trees during regular visitors center hours, unless there's a special event in the hall (call 684-3698 if you want to check before visiting).

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Here is the paper tree, designed and decorated by the Duke University Campus Club.



Just below is the glass/crystal tree, put together by Sarah P. Duke Gardens International Ikebana Chapter #264. The glass ornaments sparkle so beautifully against the dark green of the trees.




The Treyburn Garden Club offered the fibers tree, with decor made from cotton and fabrics.



The wood-themed tree below was designed by the Hillsborough Garden Club. The club decorated with everything from oak and maple wood to grapevines and buckeyes...


... and maple and poplar and corkscrew willow, all with lots of joy.

So come on out and see the trees trimmed with North Carolina bounty!

Kate Blakely is a graduate student at Duke Divinity School and a work-study assistant at Duke Gardens.