The Gardens at Duke Farms
Photos by Chris Beatty
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.
Chinese Garden
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 marvel at beautiful exhibitions of plants, landscapes, and architecture as they would in a fine arts museum. These are display, not botanical, gardens, and the thousands of species from all earthly climates are without labels, constantly- but invisibly- manipulated by a staff of fifteen full-time gardeners, to provide a palpable elation with nature and a unique aesthetic appreciation of world history. Each chamber is a portrait of an entire cultural environment, painted with plants, earth, and sculpture. The more you look, the more you see, and the perspective of so many extraordinary formulas for beauty helps one understand what it really means to be in a garden.
Italian Garden
Embark upon your mini tour of the planet earth stepping into the first of eleven gardens, a romantic Italian courtyard embellished with playful statues among lush overgrowth. Very strict and stylized in the 18th century, these gardens were later allowed freedom in their growth, achieving a playfully romantic allure. Among the plantings to which your guide may point are fragrant Cuban Oregano, striking Bird of Paradise, brilliant Bottle Brush, and, if you are there during the "spring" rendition, delicate Daffodils . The seasons under glass change artificially as flowers are moved from separate greenhouses into the gardens to simulate natural botanical cycles. A Duke Garden summer may commence sometime in mid-March.
The impressions remain extraordinary walking through the Colonial garden, representative of those found in the South Atlantic United States, teeming with Camellias, Azaleas, Magnolia and Crepe Myrtle. Stepping to the Edwardian garden visitors are engulfed by the intoxicating aromas of specimens from the oldest existing orchid range. Among other things, Doris Duke was an expert on orchids. The blooms are dominantly mauve, a color favored by wealthy Americans at the end of the 1800s.
French Garden
Topiary
Stepping from this shroud of rare tropical plants, the tour keeps a lofty pace entering the pinnacle of European classic formality in the spectacular French parterre garden. Wonderful eighteenth century lattice work, wrapped in ivy developed here on the Duke estate, embraces rainbows of tulips surveyed by classic statuary.
From this symphony, stroll to the exquisite parlor music of five English gardens. Each is a miniature version of a particular style, including a topiary, with shrubbery trimmed into shapes; a rock garden and herbaceous borders, with familiar seasonal flowers; an Elizabethan Knot Garden of the 16th and 17th centuries, and an 18th century succulent garden that fascinates with its intricate layouts.
American Desert
Suddenly, in a step or two, you have entered the great American desert and stand eye to eye with huge Barrel Cactus, Giant Aloe, and Crown of Thorns. Some trees, standing here for 40 years, are gnarled and grotesque, powerful in their presence. Beneath thrive Desert Apple, Aloe Vera, Mother-In-Law's Tongue and dozens more members of this natural garden of cactus and succulents.
Your next blissful obligation is to contemplate the extraordinary tranquillity of the Chinese garden where you'll follow a crooked walkway over a stream filled with goldfish- symbolizing good luck and long life- past Bamboo, Campher trees, Bleeding Heart, hybrid Tulips, and Jasmine, punctuated with bold rock formations. Stop and look across a pond to a mysterious grotto tucked within this free flowing explosion of plant life, then pass through a Moon Gate to a lattice courtyard.
In the Japanese garden, serenity is again the objective; this time stimulated by a stylized, controlled naturalism. A narrow foot path leads from a display of dwarfed bonsai trees past a tea house through vegetation accented with red maples. Be careful not to disturb the perfect raked patterns in the sandy soil.
Indo-Persian Garden
In the Indo-Persian garden you'll experience the grandeur of Mogul Emperor courtyards of 500 years ago. Orange trees, Mediterranean Cyprus, a Persian rose garden, and pansies surround aqueducts, fountains and waterfalls on ornate, geometric terraces. This greenhouse, different from the others, is patterned in a Moorish arch. Four patches of grass, each analogous to a city block, lead to a miniature pavilion which represents the Shah's country home.
The ultimate natural botanical expression, an impenetrable tropical rain forest, engulfs you upon entering the next chamber. Here the assault on the senses lacks only the sounds of monkeys and birds high above. The adjoining semi-tropical garden includes such exotic species as Papyrus, Fiddlehead Fern, giant blue and cream colored Bird of Paradise, and Morning-Noon-and-Night plant.
Then you're done. Although you're probably not sure how long its taken, you've walked around the world in about 1/4 mile, thanks to an expert arrangement of botanical sights and aroma's. Miss Duke's gift has 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.
The gardens, located on Route 206, 1 3/4 miles south of the Somerville traffic circle, are open Wednesday through Sunday, October 1-May 31. Because the houses can easily reach 90 degrees in warm weather, the facility is closed between June and September. A staff of about 20 conducts tours for individuals and small groups, but you must call to reserve your choice of day and time.
To visit the gardens call 908 722-3700 weekdays between 9am-4pm to reserve a time. For more information, directions, or to reserve a tour time, go to the Duke Farms website.
Last Call at Duke Gardens
This will be the final spring during which you can visit the Duke Gardens as they have existed for 43 years. 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 propertyÕs 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. To celebrate both the history and future of the display gardens at Duke Farms they will be open free of charge to the public through May 25. The one-hour walking tour will be self-directed, with docents stationed throughout the eleven display gardens. Reservations are required due to capacity limitations and can be made by calling 908-722-3700. Walks along the 1.5-mile "Walk on the Wild Side" nature trail also will be free.
Comments
13 May 2008, 07:35
11 May 2008, 15:58
I simply cannot believe that you would
dismantle one of the lovliest greenhouses ever created. I believe Doris Duke would be appalled.
Please reconsider. There is more than enough space on the estate to allow for environmental projects and classes.
08 May 2008, 14:47
04 May 2008, 17:04
02 May 2008, 03:37
30 Apr 2008, 18:31
30 Apr 2008, 07:43
27 Apr 2008, 14:42
24 Apr 2008, 04:12
23 Apr 2008, 07:18
Time is running out fast to prevent the closure of Duke Gardens, a wonder of the State of New Jersey and a source of pride for Hillsborough and Somerset County. May 25, 2008.
Although smaller in scale would Duponts trustees consider closing "Long Wood Gardens" and then would the state of Pa.
allow it to occur without exploring all the other options? I don't hink so.
Duke Gardes is too important attraction for the "Garden State" to be treated like some pink elephant.
I trully feel the Trustees actions are
driven bby "Greed" not going "Green"
With over a Billion dollars at hand
it is much easier to hide excess amounts in new project cost overruns
and pocket excesses.
In New Jersey the fauna may be nice in the forms of poison ivy or oak and rag weed or pussy wilows but can they compair to the variety of orchids or bird of paradise?
DO Not let this happen this way.
The Property can use improvements in landscaping but presearving this Duke
Icon as part of the estate is essencial.
Emery Fekete
21 Apr 2008, 13:19
I strongly urge you to reconsider changing the format of Doris Dukes = Duke Farms. It would be unfortunate to change 43 years of a success. And to destroy the loving patient care provided by the many gardeners in preserving this gem.
14 Apr 2008, 20:30
The internationally-themed Gardens will be dismantled after May 25th, 2008. If you wish to ever see these Gardens, please go to:
www.savedukegardens.org
Use the simple email links to ask the Trustees to reconsider the closure, and to ask the local and national press to cover this story.
13 Apr 2008, 19:55
13 Apr 2008, 11:48
12 Apr 2008, 08:08
12 Apr 2008, 08:08
12 Apr 2008, 05:25
Susan Bogden
11 Apr 2008, 16:41
11 Apr 2008, 10:12
Thank You,
Deborah
10 Apr 2008, 10:24
I've tried making phone reservations by phone and found that you are all booked up.
If any tickets become available ANY DAY AND TIME please let me know.
Thank you for your time.
JT
09 Apr 2008, 04:16
08 Apr 2008, 20:47
07 Apr 2008, 18:56
Please confirm tomorrow, April 8 by return email or phone: (908) 234-9169
Thank you,
Susie M. Mackay
07 Apr 2008, 10:45
Thank you
05 Apr 2008, 09:29
Thank you, Dr. Kistler Osborne and Dr. Giles C. Floyd. See you then
04 Apr 2008, 17:27
03 Apr 2008, 11:47
03 Apr 2008, 10:09
20 2nd lane
seaside park, nj 08752
thank you
28 Mar 2008, 07:05
27 Mar 2008, 15:26
25 Mar 2008, 05:53
Are weekends available? Any Sunday in April would be fine. If not, any day in April week of 21.
Thank you kindly,
Karin Cermele
20 Mar 2008, 14:22
Ellen
17 Mar 2008, 15:55
09 Mar 2008, 13:28
Unfortunately, reading some of the previous comments, this may not be available.
Please contact me via email and let me know the times of the tours on weekends. If you are closing, please let me know when.
Thanking you in advance.
09 Mar 2008, 12:07
06 Mar 2008, 13:51
04 Mar 2008, 09:35
03 Mar 2008, 15:19
02 Mar 2008, 10:43
I would also like to purchase tickets for a tour. I called the office today within the designated time but it said it was closed.
I had heard that this would be closing soon. Is that true? So sad! When is the last possible time for tours?
Thank you for any consideration.
Thank you,
Deanna Kindler
26 Feb 2008, 14:49
26 Feb 2008, 14:23
Helen Martens
35 Hawthorne Street
Mount Sinai, NY 11766
19 Feb 2008, 09:39
16 Feb 2008, 07:28
Regards.
14 Feb 2008, 07:18
12 Feb 2008, 06:16
09 Feb 2008, 19:59
09 Feb 2008, 12:18
Thank you
07 Jan 2008, 10:44
I would like to know, who I should contact about possible employment opportunities, at Duke Gardens. My expertise and skills are in horticulture, customer service and resources/outreach. Thank you for your time.
Jeannette