Fifth-graders Become Itinerant Haiku Poets

Article and photos by Nancy J. Hamilton,

Cultural programming coordinator, Culberson Asiatic Arboretum

On May 19, fifth-graders from Duke School for Children gathered for a haiku adventure in Sarah P. Duke Gardens. These emerging haiku artists took their inspiration from the 17th century Japanese haiku poet Basho, who abandoned his humble dwelling in the old city of Edo to travel Japan on foot and record his meanderings in a now-famous haiku diary. In similar fashion, the students set out onto the trails of the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum to see what scenes and experiences would inspire their writing.

Stopping at a quiet streamside spot, a bamboo grove overlooking a small waterfall gave our writers pause.

“Creek,” by Charlotte
A creek reflecting green,
An old pathway,
With new life.

“Green,” by Aaron
Dominant Color,
Everything Around Us,
Green with no envy


“Waterfall,” by Margot
Tinkling of a waterfall
A feather floats down
This is where the pond ends

“Stream,” by Zoe
Tall stalks of bamboo
Water, cascading down rocks
Bright new leaves of spring

“Wet Bamboo,” by Lindsey
Tall, skinny, green.
Bamboo.
Wetness.

Moving farther into the garden, our young poets were greeted with the fresh scent of the previous evening’s rainfall.

“Shiver,” by Amelia
The air is cold and sweet
After a long rain
Is my shiver cold or joy?

“Tears,” by Djelimory
Water falls on the trunk
As if the tree is crying
Tears for its kinsmen

“Nature’s Treasure,” by Shelby
Water drops from a leaf
Diamond shatters on the dirt
Earth swallows the gem

“Rain,” by CJ
Rain has fallen
Turning green
Grass greener.



A quiet moment pondside inspired these artists to reflect on the ever-fleeting treasures of the garden.

“Mother Duck,” by Rachel
A big mother duck
With four cute baby ducklings
Oh no! They’re gone now

“Birds,” by Katelin
Gliding above the trees,
Touching the clouds
With its wings

“The Pond,” by Emma
Very still water
A duck breaks the silence
Leaving spray in its wake

“Duck,” by John
The feather glistens
in the sun
Dark as night

“The talk of the forest,” by Conrad
The trees talk
Silent whispers of life
Can you hear it?

These poems were written as part of a haiku field trip offered by Sarah P. Duke Gardens’ Into the Gardens children’s programs. For program information, please contact Annie Nashold, director of children's education and family programs, at 919-668-1708.

For information about haiku field trips or other cultural experiences in the Asiatic Arboretum, please contact Nancy J. Hamilton, coordinator of cultural programming for the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum, at nancy.hamilton@duke.edu

Duke Gardens Spring Plant & Craft Fest

We hope to see you at the Plant & Craft Festival today. The weather has been fantastic, and crowds lined up early to get first dibs. There's still plenty left for afternoon shoppers, including some late-day markdowns.

Please also see our Plant & Craft Fest videos, including vendor features and horticulturists and curators talking about specific plants from their gardens.

Below are some of our happy shoppers.

Got Duke Gardens questions?

Garden Ambassador Charity Cole

Got questions about our gardens? The answers are now closer at hand, thanks to two recently refined outreach programs.

Look for our Garden Ambassadors at strategic locations throughout the Gardens. Our ambassadors – clad in easy-to-spot green vests -- are volunteers who know the Gardens well and are happy to assist you in finding or understanding your favorite Gardens spots. They’ve got maps, program brochures, information on what’s currently in bloom and on our semi-annual Plant & Craft Festivals, and other useful pointers for new or experienced visitors.

And in the cottage opposite the Terrace Café in the Historic Gardens, Durham County Extension Master Gardener volunteers will be at your service from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday through the end of May and again in September and October, as well as on the second Wednesday monthly in June through August and November. The Master Gardeners are a font of horticultural information. Feel free to dig deep with them. We hope you’ll benefit from their generosity in serving Duke Gardens visitors.

Master Gardener volunteers Bob Shaw and Nan Len.

Duke Gardens April events

Below are some events coming up through the end of April. Please call 668-1708 for information about children's events, 668-1705 about the Spring Plant & Craft Festival, or 668-1707 for all other events. We hope to see you here!

April 9
Spring Flower Walk in the Arboretum
The Culberson Asiatic Arboretum features many fascinating plants, displayed in beautiful and ever-changing combinations. Join curator Paul Jones as he guides you to some of the little known garden spaces and unique plants. You will leave with an enhanced perspective on the arboretum. $5; free for Gardens Friends. *Event full; please e-mail to be added to waiting list.

Fridays in April and May, 10 a.m.-noon
Nature Ranger Cart
Look for the colorful cart at the foot of the Terrace Gardens; it's full of simple and fun activities for children. Play flower bingo or make pressed flower bookmarks, paper butterflies, pond life pictures and bark, insect or leaf rubbings. Or get some nutritious food for the Gardens' ducks.

Saturday, April 10, 8 a.m.
Bird Walk
Enjoy an early morning stroll in the Gardens with fellow bird enthusiasts and Cynthia Fox, of Chapel Hill's Wild Bird Center. Cynthia will help you to spot, identify and learn more about the birds that call this region home, even temporarily. Don't miss this opportunity to experience that one remarkable bird sighting. Children are welcome if they are age 8 or older. Please bring binoculars. If the weather is iffy, please call Alice Le Duc at 730-2503 to check the status of the walk. Free, but registration required. *Event full; please e-mail to be added to waiting list.

Saturday, April 10, 10:45 a.m.-noon
Traditional Japanese Tea Gathering
As a guest to Tea, you will experience the patterns and poetry of Chado, or the Japanese “way of tea,” while enjoying an enticing bowl of whisked tea and a seasonal treat. The practice of Tea is characterized by the phrase ichigo ichie, or “one moment – one meeting.” The small class group will meet at the Doris Duke Center to be escorted by instructor Nancy Hamilton to the Durham-Toyama Sister Cities Pavilion in Duke Gardens for this intimate gathering. $30; $20 Gardens Friends. *Two seatings; both full. Please e-mail to be added to waiting list.

Saturday, April 10, 11 a.m.
Story Time
Enjoy nature stories with your children, and help them make a take-home creation. $2 per child.

Saturday and Sunday, April 10 & 11, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.
Improving Photo Quality
Stretch your skills and learn techniques that will improve the technical and artistic merit of your photographs. Instructor Richard Cicone will focus on understanding and manipulating the variables that go into making a quality photograph. $120; $85 Gardens Friends.

Tuesday, April 13, 2-4 p.m.
A Hanging Basket for Summer
A hanging basket planted with beautiful and colorful flowers and foliage will enhance your porch or deck area throughout the summer. Alice Le Duc will help you create an innovative basket of plants for that special place around your home. Please indicate when you register whether your basket will be in a sunny or shady area. All supplies included and each student will complete a basket. $55; $40 Gardens Friends. Pre-registration required, so we can purchase sufficient supplies.

Wednesday, April 21, 2-4 p.m.
Tour: Historic Gardens Color Walk
There is an astounding range of plants displayed across our gardens: perennial plants, annual flowers and foliage and tropical plants, all in wonderful combinations. Join our expert staff members in a casual walk through a variety of garden spaces to learn more about what is currently in bloom and which plant combinations they especially love. Color walks will focus on the Perennial Allée, Historic Terraces, Butterfly Garden and Memorial Garden. Tours continue in May and July. $5; free for Gardens Friends. Registration required. *Event full; please e-mail to be added to waiting list.

Saturday, April 24, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Spring Plant & Craft Festival
Let us help you prepare for spring gardening and gift-giving, whether it be a new shrub or tree, a plant for your apartment, bird houses or scented soaps. The Gardens and other vendors will sell an array of plants appropriate for this region, including many featured in Duke Gardens. Local artisans will sell garden-related gift items. And you can also get free horticultural advice from the staff and Durham County Master Gardeners. Free admission. Join Friends of Duke Gardens (684-5579) for an invitation to the preview sale April 23 (and -- now through June 15 -- for a free subscription to Better Homes & Gardens). Discount student memberships available.

Arts in the Garden: Timmy Abell

Asheville songwriter/storyteller Timmy Abell will kick off our spring Arts in the Garden series April 3, with an outdoor performance in the Angle Amphitheater outside the Doris Duke Center (it’ll move inside if it rains).

Timmy has won national acclaim for his concerts, original music and CDs, including a National Parenting Publications Award and honors from the American Library Association and the N.C. Arts Council. N.C. Public Television featured his songs in its Celebration Series, and he starred in a public television special, "Timmy and Friends."

Timmy spoke with Duke Gardens work-study student Nnenna Ene about his performances with his wife Susana. Here are some highlights from that interview:

On connecting with children:
“When we’re performing, we try to connect with children by treating them as if they are very intelligent beings. And we’re very careful not to try to talk down to them. We have found that with so much of the media these days and types of children’s music and so forth that they just sort of treat children like they are less than human. So we really try to connect with them by just having fun, by doing things that are participatory and easy for them to do but also respect their intelligence.”

On older audiences:
“Most of what we present is family oriented, not just kid oriented. … Some people sort of accuse me of writing children’s songs for adults. There’s a lot in the songs that I write, and many of them that adults can easily relate to just as well as kids. … It’s really family entertainment, not children’s entertainment.

On audience participation:
“We have a wonderful thing in the middle of our concert which is called the sit-down square dance. Basically, one of the kids is up playing a percussion instrument. It’s an old-fashioned type of wooden toy that has this little dancing man and he keeps the beat. And I play the banjo and I call a square dance, which would be a typical square dance calling except that all the kids are doing that in their seats, all the different dance calls. Another thing that they do which is participatory, we do lots of hand motions, like with particular songs that we sing. They sing along with us. There’s lots of singing.”

On puppets and morals:
“Susana has this wonderful puppet show called "The Gardener." It’s a little 10-minute European-style puppet show. It’s not necessarily geared for kids like the puppetry in the United States is considered for young kids; in Europe and Asia and other countries, it’s just as much or more for adults. This is the European-style puppet show, and it’s got a little story of good and evil, and it has a moral, and we’re always trying to engage the kids, and figuring out what is the lesson from the story -- that sort of thing.”

On traducción:
“Susana has this one other puppet, which is a sloth from South America named Quick, and he only speaks Spanish. And we go into lots of schools where there is a population of Spanish-speaking students. So it’s very uplifting for those kids, and it’s also good for the English-speaking kids, to see one of the bilingual kids come on stage and translate for Quick so that we can understand what he said.”

Tickets:
Tickets are $10 and available at the Duke University Box Office online or at 919-684-4444.

Free venue rental May 1 at Duke Gardens

The Doris Duke Center / Photo by Penny Noell

The Peace Pond & Amphitheater

How's this for a fantastic deal? Tre Bella Flowers & Gifts and Triangle Catering have rented the Doris Duke Center and the Peace Pond and amphitheater May 1, 2010, to give away to anyone who has an event they'd like to hold there. The only requirement of the event is that its organizers hire Tre Bella and Triangle Catering for it.

For more information on this fantastic opportunity, please call Duke Gardens events coordinator Jennifer Copeland at 668-5100 or jennifer.copeland@duke.edu.

Learn about Conifers on Tuesday

This column originally ran in the Herald-Sun. We hope it's helpful to you as you plan your gardens.

Weeping Atlas Cedar (Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca Pendula')
Photo by Jason Holmes

By Jason Holmes

Many of my family vacations growing up were spent in central New York and traveling the northeastern U.S. As a gardener, I always enjoyed seeing the wonderful array of evergreen conifers that grow in the Northeast, such as the iconic blue spruce.

Conifers by definition are any gymnospermous trees or shrubs bearing cones. Now that you have a broad definition, here are a few examples: ginkgo, fir, pine, cedar, spruce, and arborvitae. This article will refer to evergreen conifers. These plants can serve multiple uses in the garden with textural contrast, color, architectural form and year-round interest.

Many of the conifers that we choose as gardeners give us great textural contrast when surrounded by deciduous shrubs and perennials. Most are finely textured because of their thin, needle or scale-like leaves. Such plants include the billowy dwarf Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Elegans’) and the thread-like foliage of the thread-branch false cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera ‘Filifera’). This texture contrasts really well with bold foliage and makes for a stunning scene in the garden. In fact, many conifers are being added to annual planting beds to help create this effect.

Color, one of my favorite characteristics of these plants, can add a totally new dimension to the garden. Evergreen conifers can range in color from yellow to bright gold, light green to dark green, and shades of blue-green to blue-gray. Many of the cultivated Chinese junipers have these variations of color, from ‘Angelica Blue’ to ‘Saybrook Gold’, and when used in the landscape, they give a welcome splash of color. One of my favorites for its color change is the Red Star Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides ‘Red Star’), which changes color throughout the season, turning almost purple-gray during the short days of winter.

The architectural form can really be the best attribute of all. Conifer form can be dwarf, weeping, tall and narrow, irregular and formal. In fact, I bet there is a conifer for every type of garden situation. Each unique form can help define a space and the very feel of the garden where it is placed. Some, such as Weeping Blue Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca Pendula’), fit well as a single specimen trailing over structures in the garden, while Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica ‘Yoshino’) make a great dense hedge. Italian cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is very narrow and extremely upright, lending itself to a more formal look. The Hinoki false cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) has a more irregular habit and works well in a very informal setting.

Year-round interest is so important for the garden, especially here where we live. Conifers can be added to containers and to create a great winter display. Once you combine all of the desirable qualities of conifers, you will have eye-catching interest in your garden through every season.

If you’d like to learn more about conifers, consider signing up for Sarah P. Duke Gardens’ Conifer Trek on March 2 from 1 to 3 p.m., or the class “Conifers in the Garden: Adding Structure & Emphasis” from 7 to 9 p.m. the same day. Both will be led by Flo Chaffin, owner of Specialty Ornamentals Nursery in Georgia. For information, call 668-1707 or write to aleduc@duke.edu.

Jason Holmes is curator of the Doris Duke Center Gardens at Sarah P. Duke Gardens.