Duke Gardens Gifts for the Holidays

An embellished lizard pin is among the Garden Guild's
intriguing crafts. Photo by Orla Swift.

By Annie Yang T'20

As nature lovers, we are always on the lookout for fun gifts and decorations for the holiday season. Fortunately, the Terrace Shop and the volunteer Garden Guild make it easy to find fun and festive items.

Origami boxes, some from recycled paper,
make a unique presentation. Photo: Yang.

From origami gift boxes to note cards, ornaments and jewelry, the Garden Guild’s crafty members always have an intriguing selection of gifts related to nature or Duke Gardens.

The guild’s most item popular item is an origami box made of recycled decorative paper, including Duke Gardens’ calendars and other publications, as well as gift wrap and scrapbook paper. The boxes’ design is by origami artist Tomoko Fuse. The guild’s boxes are available all year, but the decorative paper gives the winter boxes a distinctly festive look.

If your friend sews, an acorn
pincushion makes a
whimsical gift. Photo: Swift.

Ornaments are another guild best-seller—in fact, the okra Santa ornaments have already sold out.  Grown in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden, the okra is painted to resemble Santa Claus with a very long beard.

As nature lovers, we are always on the lookout for fun gifts and decorations for the holiday season. Fortunately, the Terrace Shop and the volunteer Garden Guild make it easy to find fun and festive items.

Hang tiny Duke Gardens
photos in a window or
on a tree. Photo: Swift.

From origami gift boxes to note cards, fabric Kindle cases, ornaments and jewelry, the Garden Guild’s crafty members always have an intriguing selection of gifts related to nature or Duke Gardens.

The guild’s most item popular item is an origami box made of recycled decorative paper, including Duke Gardens’ calendars and other publications, as well as gift wrap and scrapbook paper. The boxes’ design is by origami artist Tomoko Fuse. The guild’s boxes are available all year, but the decorative paper gives the winter boxes a distinctly festive look.

Ornaments are another guild best-seller—in fact, the okra Santa ornaments have already sold out.  Grown in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden, the okra is painted to resemble Santa Claus with a very long beard.

The guild's cork angel ornaments will sing their way into
your heart. Photo: Swift.

Other Garden Guild ornaments range from whimsical cork angels to tiny framed Duke Gardens photos. There are also more standard looking spherical ornaments with unique colors and patterns.

If you want to wish friends and family well this holiday season, the Guild’s seasonal cards add a personal touch to your messages. Some designs are more timeless and boast unique features like wearable pins and tea bags.

Plant pot Santas and elves
add joy to a Christmas tree.
Photo: Swift.

The Guild has quite a few other wearable creations, including blingy lizard and dragonfly pins and Louis Vuitton-style fabric bead necklaces. The craftsmanship and attention to detail make all of the Garden Guild’s creations truly special.

Dress up your Kindle for the holidays with this
handmade fabric case. Photo: Swift.

This is only a small sample of the Garden Guild’s intriguing creations. Visit the Terrace Shop to see all they have to offer and the skill and care put into their work. You'll also want to remember Duke Gardens all year long with a 2017 wall calendar and 56-page souvenir photo book. Visit the store or call 919-684-9037 to purchase your favorite items. There’s something for everyone to bring a piece of Duke Gardens and Duke back home!

Spotlight on: The Garden Guild

By Sarah Leach Smith

This holiday season, it’s all about local, handmade gifts. Shopping locally can seem daunting, especially when big-box stores are so easily accessible. But you don't need to look further than the Terrace Shop at Duke Gardens – here, you’ll find awesome gift ideas created with care by the Duke Gardens Garden Guild.

The Garden Guild started in the summer of 1999 to create garden-related crafts to sell at the fall plant sale to benefit Duke  Gardens. Their efforts were a great success, netting approximately $2,000 from their first sale! Since then, the Guild has become a popular fixture here at Duke Gardens.

Today, the Guild has 20 active members who meet Monday afternoons at the Gardens for crafting sessions. Each member has different experiences and talents, and they teach each other new skills to create beautiful, practical and one-of-a-kind items while having a great time socializing together.

This year, in lieu of the annual craft fair, you can find their unique offerings in the Terrace Shop year round. They are presently getting ready for the holiday season with tree ornaments, note cards (sold individually and in boxed sets), ceramic angel figurines and more. 

I recently had the opportunity to spend time with the Guild during one of their crafting sessions and was floored by the creativity and originality I saw. Come out and see their wares in the Terrace Shop. You are sure to impress a friend or loved one with a thoughtful, handmade gift. The Garden Guild brings out new items often, so be sure to check back regularly.

If you are interested in getting involved with the Garden Guild, we’d love to have you. Learn more about volunteering at Duke Gardens on our website. Happy Holidays!