Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill showcase many beautiful aspects of nature, including gardens, one of the most enticing parts of spring. Gardens make the perfect spot for photography, picnics, or a fun day with family and friends. Consider visiting the Raleigh Rose Garden, Sarah P. Duke Garden, WRAL Azalea Gardens, or N.C. State’s J.C. Raulston Arboretum, to see the flowers in bloom.
The Raleigh Rose Garden is located behind Raleigh Little Theater and features stunning roses, trees, and perennials. It includes 60 rose beds, featuring hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, miniatures, and antique roses. The garden is open from dawn until dusk and is entirely free to visit. Millbrook student Lila Howington, who had her 8th grade graduation there, shared, “I loved the stone arch that went along the back of the garden and the assortment of the varying colors of roses is really pretty in the springtime.”
Sarah P. Duke Garden, located on the Duke University campus, is renowned for its size and various pathways that allow you to explore. It includes the Terrace Garden which is covered by a wisteria-covered pergola. It also features the Roney Fountain which is located in the center of a rose garden, as well as a large fish pool inhabited by goldfish, koi, and water lilies. Flowers in bloom in the month of April include columnar flowering peach, riverbank azalea, Mt. Fuji cherry blossom, star magnolia, Japanese camelia and many more that fill up the garden’s 55 acres. Sarah P. Duke Garden is free, but parking at Duke costs $2 an hour. On April 28, the university will host a nature festival at the gardens from 1-4 p.m. featuring live performances.
The WRAL Azalea Gardens, located behind the WRAL-TV-5 studio, have been a cherished feature of Raleigh since the 1950s. One thousand azaleas were planted when it first opened, and the gardens are now home to many other varieties of flowers and trees. Camellias, hydrangeas, and perennials are just a few of the many different flowers. California coast redwood, long-leaf pine, ginkgo biloba and butterfly and red select Japanese maples trees are scattered throughout the gardens. If you would like to see the 60+ varieties of azaleas, the gardens are open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. every day of the week, free of charge.
N.C. State’s JC Raulston Arboretum is a botanical garden that hosts events frequently. The arboretum contains 14 diverse and unique gardens! There are 6,471 total flora. Millbrook sophomore Ashton Johnson shared, “My favorite thing about the arboretum is just how many different kinds of plants there are. It’s also great that they sell their plants. I’ve bought and planted their butterfly weed flowers.”
On Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., they will be hosting an event called Raulston Blooms featuring nature-themed activities, food trucks, a makers market, and a plant sale. This event is friendly for all ages and is free for N.C. State students, $5 for non-students, and $10 per family. Admission is free on days when an event is not hosted.
Consider visiting one of these gardens or arboretums this spring to enjoy North Carolina’s natural beauty.
