The Sarah P. Duke Gardens is offering a variety of activities this fall, including a harvest festival, tea tastings and educational experiences.
“We would love to see Duke students, families, community members of all ages to be joining us for those exciting events,” said Kavanah Anderson, director of learning and engagement at Duke Gardens.
Harvest Festival
The festival, taking place Oct. 9 at the Charlotte Brody Discovery Garden, will feature art, music, and other hands-on demonstrations including presentations by Durham County beekeepers and local musician Mr. Steve.
“Some features of the [Discovery Garden], contributing to the bounty of fall celebration, include a small orchard, herbs and sensory plants,” Anderson said. The garden specializes in “sustainably grown fruits and vegetables using a variety of techniques.”
Registration is not required for this event. It will be from 1 to 4 p.m.
Way of Tea
Japanese tea tastings have returned to the Duke Gardens’ Asiatic Arboretum for the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Guests can either participate in a tea demonstration for $24 per person, or tea gathering for $58 per person.
The demonstrations aim to teach “about the different traditions and tools that go into a tea gathering,” Anderson said. Guests will sit and sip tea outside of the Duke Gardens’ tea house.
Tea demonstrations will take place on the following dates:
- Sep. 30, 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Oct. 1, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m to 12:15 p.m.
Japanese tea gatherings will take place on the following dates:
- Oct. 21, 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
- Oct. 22, 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Spots are limited for Way of Tea events. Registration can be completed on the Duke Gardens website.
Flowers after Hours
Taking place on Oct. 13 from 4:00 to 4:45 p.m., Duke Gardens will offer a short, free guided tour of the grounds. Participants will have the opportunity to take a stroll through the garden and see the fall colors. Since the program ends in the garden, tour-goers will have the opportunity to continue exploring afterward. Although this experience has no fee, registration is still required.
Noticing Nature
Participants will have the opportunity to unplug in this class, which is part of The Gardens Piedmont Naturalist Series. The Noticing Nature class will take place at the Doris Duke Center on Oct. 1 from 9:30.to 11:00 a.m. Led by naturalist Kim Smart, the class will invite participants to deepen their powers of observation as they immerse themselves in The Gardens. Advanced registration is required and costs $21.
Further event information and listings can be found on the Duke Gardens website.
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Michelle Brown is a Trinity junior and an editor-at-large of The Chronicle's 120th volume.
Yasmine Kaplan is a Trinity junior and a staff reporter for the news department.