A Festival of Fabulous Mums at Duke Gardens

Duke Gardens, at 420 Anderson Street in Durham, is considered one of the 10 top public gardens in the United States and is free to visit. It’s open every day, 365 days a year, from 8 a.m. to dusk. It features a rose garden, sundial and butterfly garden, terraces and fish pool, and much more.

In addition to the free admission every day (please note that there’s a small charge for parking) the gardens offer many events and some of them are free.

Scroll down to see a list of some of the upcoming free events, and to see pictures of Duke Gardens in spring, summer and fall.

Sarah P. Duke Gardens in the Winter

There’s no wrong time of year to visit Duke Gardens. In the winter, Duke Gardens provide an especially peaceful experience. There are plants in bloom every season, and in the winter you can enjoy them without any crowds.

There are endless paths to explore, and plenty of benches along the way to rest and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature.

Visiting Duke Gardens in the winter gives you a chance to notice the plants and landscaping that might get overshadowed by the wealth of flowers in the spring and summer.

Free events at Sarah P. Duke Gardens

Make sure to follow the links for all the details.

Here is some of what’s coming up:

HARVEST FESTIVAL | SUNDAY, OCT. 20, 1-4 PM
Free. Drop-in activity for adults and children together; all ages.
Meet in the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden.
Celebrate the bounty of autumn with a festival of activities, music, demonstrations and more, led by Duke Gardens and other local groups.

MALLARMÉ CHAMBER PLAYERS FAMILY CONCERT | SUNDAY, OCT. 20, 1-2 PM
Free. Drop-in event.
For adults and children together; all ages. Meet in the Doris Duke Center.

A FESTIVAL OF FABULOUS MUMS | SUNDAY, NOV. 3-TUESDAY, NOV. 5
Free. Drop-in event for adults and children together; all ages. In the Doris Duke Center.
Sunday, Nov. 3, 12-5 pm. Monday, Nov. 4, 9 am-5 pm. Tuesday, Nov. 5, 9 am-5 pm.
Dazzling displays of show chrysanthemums grown by the Central Carolina Chrysanthemum Society! Vote for your favorite, enjoy the arts and crafts and take a mum tour in the Gardens. Mum Society members will be on hand to give you tips on growing these spectacular flowers. Rare spider mums, spoon tip mums, quilled blooms, from delicate to gigantic, it is an explosion of color.

THE 5TH ANNUAL FALL FOR ORCHIDS SHOW | FRIDAY, NOV. 8-SUNDAY, NOV. 10
Free. Drop-in event for adults and children together; all ages. In the Doris Duke Center.
Friday, Nov. 8, 1-4 pm. Saturday, Nov. 9, 9 am-5 pm. Sunday, Nov. 10, 9 am-4 pm.
You will be amazed by the color, shape and fragrance of these exotic plants and overwhelmed by the displays. Hundreds of blooming orchids grown by Orchid enthusiasts from across the southeast U.S., arranged in lush, fragrant, garden-like settings. The show, by members of the Triangle Orchid Society, is sanctioned by the American Orchid Society and will include judged plants of many species and varieties.
Free drop-in demonstrations and workshops on practical orchid potting, mounting and maintaining.
Plants available for purchase from several vendors.