Parks & Nature
Parks, trails, and playgrounds
Nature Discovery Butterfly Walk
Guided butterfly walk at Prairie Ridge nature preserve in Raleigh.
Seed Starting for Fall and Winter Vegetables
Learn seed-starting techniques for fall & winter veggies at Duke Gardens.
Playdate with Nature (Whiteville)
Outdoor nature exploration playdate for toddlers and preschoolers.
Art Cart at Downtown Cary Park
Free art activities at Downtown Cary Park—create outdoors at the mobile Art Cart.
Pack Like a Guide: a 10 Essentials Hike (FREE CLASS)
Free hiking class teaching 10 essentials—perfect for families learning outdoor skills in Bahama.
Nature Play Day at NCMA
Free outdoor nature play and exploration at NC Museum of Art's grounds.
Botany Spotlight: Amazing Plant Adaptations to Terrestrial Environments
Learn how plants adapt to extreme environments at Duke Gardens.
Walk on the Wild Side
Guided nature walk exploring native plants and their human connections at Duke Gardens.
Meet the Keepers
Meet the gardeners of Duke Gardens' Discovery Garden—beekeepers, chicken caretakers, and plant experts.
Birding with Wake Audubon Society
Guided birding walk with Wake Audubon at Museum Park—spot local birds and learn from experts.
Classical Music in the Park
Free classical music performance in Museum Park—bring a blanket and enjoy live music outdoors.
Plant Propagation: Growing New Plants from Cuttings
Learn plant propagation from cuttings with Duke Gardens' curator in this hands-on botany workshop.
Native Shrubs for Resilient Landscapes (in person)
Learn how native shrubs build resilient gardens with an expert naturalist at Duke Gardens.
Storytime at the Park
Songs and stories outdoors at the Farmers' Market Pavilion for babies through age 5.
From One to Many: Plant Propagation Walk
Walk with a plant curator to learn propagation techniques at Duke Gardens.
Herbs Beyond the Kitchen
Explore medicinal, aromatic & creative uses of herbs beyond cooking with an expert.
Botany Spotlight: Meet the Meat Eaters—Carnivorous Plants
Learn about carnivorous plants from a Duke biology professor at Duke Gardens.
Harvest Festival
Celebrate autumn at Duke Gardens with activities, music & demonstrations for all ages.
On the Rocks: A Scree & Crevice Garden Tour
Explore Duke Gardens' scree & crevice gardens and discover tenacious alpine plants.
Mixed-Media Floral Greeting Cards
Create botanically inspired greeting cards using mixed-media techniques at Duke Gardens.
Mum’s the Word: Special Walking Tour of Show Chrysanthemums (Oct.)
Learn how chrysanthemums are cultivated into stunning blooms on a guided garden tour.
Build a Bug Snug
Build a sculptural bug hotel from twigs and stems to help insects overwinter.
Botanizing at Occoneechee Mountain
Hike a hidden gem of NC forest with Duke's biology professor to spot diverse native plants.
A Festival of Fabulous Mums
Celebrate autumn's colors amid thousands of blooming chrysanthemums at Duke Gardens.
Mum’s the Word: Special Walking Tour of Show Chrysanthemums (Nov.)
Learn how chrysanthemums are cultivated into stunning blooms on a guided garden tour.
Rethinking Seasonal Cleanup: Why Less Can Be More for Wildlife (in person)
Rethinking Seasonal Cleanup: Why Less Can Be More for Wildlife (in person) at Duke Gardens–Pelham-Cullen Classroom in the Barnes Welcome Center
Rethinking Seasonal Cleanup: Why Less Can Be More for Wildlife (virtual)
Rethinking Seasonal Cleanup: Why Less Can Be More for Wildlife (virtual) at Virtual (Zoom)
Botanical Quilt Blocks
Botanical Quilt Blocks at Duke Gardens–Pelham-Cullen Classroom in the Barnes Welcome Center
Woody Ethnobotany
Woody Ethnobotany at Duke Gardens–Pelham-Cullen Classroom in the Barnes Welcome Center
Cultivating Capacity: Plant Meditation and Sculpture
Cultivating Capacity: Plant Meditation and Sculpture at Duke Gardens–Pelham-Cullen Classroom in the Barnes Welcome Center
The Story of Stone in the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum
The Story of Stone in the Culberson Asiatic Arboretum at Duke Gardens–Barnes Welcome Center
Midday Meader
Midday Meader at Onsite at Duke Gardens – directions to follow
Triangle Orchid Society Fall for Orchids Show
Free orchid show with hundreds of blooming plants, expert talks, and orchids for sale at Duke Gardens.
Kudzu and Wisteria Basket Weaving
Learn basket weaving with invasive plants at Duke Gardens.
Botany Spotlight: Lichen
Nature walk exploring lichen at Duke Gardens.
Holiday Greenery: Build Your Own Wreath
Build a fresh holiday wreath at Duke Gardens.
Developing Reverent Relationships with Plants: Herbal Stovetop Potpourri
Hands-on herbal workshop creating stovetop potpourri at Duke Gardens.
Stonework of Duke Gardens
Guided tour of Duke Gardens' stunning stonework with master artisan Brooks Burleson.
Midday Meander
Conversational garden stroll with Duke Gardens' director of learning & engagement.