The Gardens at Duke Farms
Where Have All The Flowers Gone?
Duke Gardens Are Now Closed To The Public
After 43 years of operation, Duke Gardens closed to the public this spring (2008). According to a Duke Farms statement: "After an extensive strategic planning process and the beginning of a transitional phase, the 2,740-acre property at Duke Farms will refocus its programs and operations to become an environmental showcase and learning center. The immediate future will include a period of construction, phasing out some tours and activities, and expanding environmental programs and self-guided public access over time. Beginning in 2010, visitors will begin their trip to Duke Farms at a newly renovated "green" orientation center, which will be housed in a 22,000-square-foot building currently known as the Farm Barn. From there, visitors will be able to embark on numerous paths or hop aboard sustainably-powered trams to explore the property's diverse landscapes and habitats. A re-configured version of the display gardens will move to a different greenhouse conservatory and be renovated to improve the energy-efficiency and environmental sustainability of the gardens. The gardens also will expand to include an outdoor component."
Below, a description of the former gardens is followed by some passionate reaction to the trustees decision. Feel free to add your own comments.
Chinese Garden
In 1964, Doris Duke completed one of her life's ambitions when she opened a splendidly enchanted acre of land on her expansive Somerville estate for public visitation. On the site of growing houses built near the turn of the century for household use on her father's estate, Miss Duke developed the exotic display gardens in his honor. The project, inspired by DuPont's Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA, began in 1959 and required a five-year process of experimentation and design to achieve a series of landscapes replicating various classic garden settings from around the world, spanning centuries of human culture. Miss Duke remained personally involved with the gardens until the mid 1980s, and they remain a radiant parcel of the fabled heiress's legacy; sanctuary in a tumultuous world.
Visitors to Duke Gardens marveled at beautiful exhibitions of plants, landscapes, and architecture as they would in a fine arts museum. These were display, not botanical, gardens, and the thousands of species from all earthly climates were constantly- but invisibly- manipulated by a full-time staff to provide a palpable elation with nature and a unique aesthetic appreciation of world history. Each chamber portrayed an entire cultural environment, painted with plants, earth, and sculpture. The perspective of so many extraordinary formulas for beauty helped one understand what it really means to be in a garden.
Italian Garden
The mini tour of the planet earth included eleven gardens. A romantic Italian courtyard contained playful statues among lush overgrowth. The Colonial garden, representative of those found in the South Atlantic United States, teemed with Camellias, Azaleas, Magnolia and Crepe Myrtle. Stepping to the Edwardian garden visitors were engulfed by the intoxicating aromas of specimens from the oldest existing orchid range. Among other things, Doris Duke was an expert on orchids.
French Garden
The spectacular French parterre garden represented the pinnacle of European classic formality. Five English gardens grew in styles centuries old. Then, suddenly, in a step or two, visitors entered the great American desert and stood eye to eye with huge Barrel Cactus, Giant Aloe, and Crown of Thorns.
Chinese and Japanese gardens offered beauty and serenity without having to travel to the Far East. And the grandeur of Mogul Emperor courtyards of 500 years ago came alive in the Indo-Persian garden.
Finally, the ultimate natural botanical expression, an impenetrable tropical rain forest filled the next chamber, with a semi-tropical garden adjoining.
Around the world in about 1/4 mile! Thanks to an expert arrangement of botanical sights and aromas. Miss Duke's gift was been to make it abundantly clear that, while plants may seem to have a low profile in our society, they are, both biologically and culturally, the basis of life.