Join us for a range of engaging programs that will deepen your connection to plants, expand your gardening skills and introduce you to new ways of learning.
You’ll find plant-inspired programs to engage your mind and body that take place onsite, offsite and virtually. Registration is open now, and a few more programs will be added throughout the season.
If you have already registered for a program in 2026 and would like to register for more, you will need your confirmation code included in previous registration emails. For assistance and to cancel your registration in accordance with our refund, cancellation and privacy policies, please email GardensEducation@duke.edu or call 919-668-1707.
Upcoming Adult Education Programs
Interested in Japanese Tea Gatherings? Click here for more information.
Birding for Beginners
Birding for Beginners
Build your bird observation skills on a slow stroll through Duke Gardens with Bella Insignares, education staff at Duke Gardens, as you gather a list of different birds that use the Gardens. If you ha...
Making Cordage with Backyard Plants
Making Cordage with Backyard Plants
Learn to create strong and beautiful cord from fibers growing in your backyard with Angela Eastman of Flag Mountain Studio. We will cover processing the bast fibers or whole leaves of many plants (suc...
Bearing Witness with Nature-Based Art: A Grief Journey with Gaza
Bearing Witness with Nature-Based Art: A Grief Journey with Gaza
Please join us for a pop-up exhibit and artist talk with The Witness about their evolving art practice that centers around themes of identity, belonging, grief and sorrow. The Witness will share how a...
Walk on the Wild Side
Walk on the Wild Side
Join horticulture staff and experienced volunteers on a walk around the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants to learn about connections between people, plants and place. Each month will feature a differe...
Japanese Tea Gathering: Children’s Day
Japanese Tea Gathering: Children’s Day
Join Chizuko Sueyoshi and members of the Japanese Tea Practitioners of Durham for a moment of respite in the Duke Gardens teahouse, where you will experience the centering calm of a traditional Japane...
Languages of the Land: Getting to Know Native Fiber and Dye Plants
Languages of the Land: Getting to Know Native Fiber and Dye Plants
Presented by Adé Oni, founder of dìèdìè textile micromill and studio. The earth gives us everything we need to survive and adorn our lives. Let's get to know the material culture and ancient rela...
Japanese Tea Gathering: Children’s Day (a.m. seating)
Japanese Tea Gathering: Children’s Day (a.m. seating)
Join us for a moment of respite in the Duke Gardens teahouse, where you will experience the centering calm of a Japanese tea gathering in the Urasenke tradition with tea master Chizuko Sueyoshi and me...
Japanese Tea Gathering: Children’s Day (p.m. seating)
Japanese Tea Gathering: Children’s Day (p.m. seating)
Join us for a moment of respite in the Duke Gardens teahouse, where you will experience the centering calm of a Japanese tea gathering in the Urasenke tradition with tea master Chizuko Sueyoshi and me...
Mosses of Duke Gardens
Mosses of Duke Gardens
Walk the Gardens with Blanka Aguero, bryophyte data manager at the Duke University Herbarium, to look for mosses and liverworts, discussing what they tell you about the site. Visit and learn about rec...
Making Herbarium Specimens for Science and Art
Making Herbarium Specimens for Science and Art
This interactive program led by Scott LaGreca, Paul J. Kramer Plant Collections Manager at Duke Gardens, will combine the scientific and artistic aspects of plant specimen preservation. Participants w...
Create Your Own Herbal Cooling Face Mist
Create Your Own Herbal Cooling Face Mist
Develop your relationship with some well-known plants by creating an herbal face mist with Sufia Ikbal-Doucet (they/them), herbalist & sovereignty doula. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll uncover the...
Plein Air Watercolor: Exploring Greens in the Landscape
Plein Air Watercolor: Exploring Greens in the Landscape
Join us for a watercolor plein-air painting workshop set amid the lush beauty of the public garden with artist Ryann Carey. This class focuses on capturing the many shades and subtleties of gree...
Forest Bathing Walk
Forest Bathing Walk
Come discover the regenerative power of mindful engagement with nature with certified forest therapy guide Stephanie Campbell. The Japanese tradition of Shinrin-Yoku, forest bathing, is a practice usi...
Painting Collections: Flowers in Art
Painting Collections: Flowers in Art
Gardens with botanical artist Julia Einstein. Be inspired by botanical still lifes, floral motifs and natural forms in the decorative arts. You will be guided to "paint" with pencil and use techniques...
History of Gardening: How Cultures, Events, and People Made Gardening What it is Today
History of Gardening: How Cultures, Events, and People Made Gardening What it is Today
Presented by Bryce Lane, NC State Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor Emeritus and former host and producer three-time, Emmy winning, UNC TV public television show “In the Garden With Bryce...
Botanical Linocut Printmaking
Botanical Linocut Printmaking
Gather inspiration from the gardens in this introduction to linocut printmaking, a relief printing technique where an image is carved into a linoleum block, with Bella Insignares, education staff at D...
Native Plant Solutions: Fall Forward Perennials
Native Plant Solutions: Fall Forward Perennials
Does your landscape look tired near the end of summer? Give yourself and the wildlife around you a boost with fall-forward perennials. At their peak during late summer and fall, these species have uni...
Walk on the Wild Side
Walk on the Wild Side
Join horticulture staff and volunteers on a walk around the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants to learn about connections between people, plants and place. Each month will feature a different seasonal ...
Birding for Beginners
Birding for Beginners
Build your bird observation skills on a slow stroll through Duke Gardens with Bella Insignares, education staff at Duke Gardens, as you gather a list of different birds that use the Gardens. If you have ever found yourself wondering about the birds that are flying or si...
Making Cordage with Backyard Plants
Making Cordage with Backyard Plants
Learn to create strong and beautiful cord from fibers growing in your backyard with Angela Eastman of Flag Mountain Studio. We will cover processing the bast fibers or whole leaves of many plants (such as daffodil, iris, daylily, crocosmia and the inner barks of many vi...
Bearing Witness with Nature-Based Art: A Grief Journey with Gaza
Bearing Witness with Nature-Based Art: A Grief Journey with Gaza
Please join us for a pop-up exhibit and artist talk with The Witness about their evolving art practice that centers around themes of identity, belonging, grief and sorrow. The Witness will share how applying images to fresh leaves and paper has allowed them to process t...
Walk on the Wild Side
Walk on the Wild Side
Join horticulture staff and experienced volunteers on a walk around the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants to learn about connections between people, plants and place. Each month will feature a different seasonal topic related to gardening with native plants.
Japanese Tea Gathering: Children’s Day
Japanese Tea Gathering: Children’s Day
Join Chizuko Sueyoshi and members of the Japanese Tea Practitioners of Durham for a moment of respite in the Duke Gardens teahouse, where you will experience the centering calm of a traditional Japanese tea gathering. Enjoy the aesthetics, poetry and serenity of this ri...
Birding for Beginners
Birding for Beginners
Build your bird observation skills on a slow stroll through Duke Gardens with Bella Insignares, education staff at Duke Gardens, as you gather a list of different birds that use the Gardens. If you have ever found yourself wondering about the birds that are flying or si...
Making Cordage with Backyard Plants
Making Cordage with Backyard Plants
Learn to create strong and beautiful cord from fibers growing in your backyard with Angela Eastman of Flag Mountain Studio. We will cover processing the bast fibers or whole leaves of many plants (such as daffodil, iris, daylily, crocosmia and the inner barks of many vi...
Bearing Witness with Nature-Based Art: A Grief Journey with Gaza
Bearing Witness with Nature-Based Art: A Grief Journey with Gaza
Please join us for a pop-up exhibit and artist talk with The Witness about their evolving art practice that centers around themes of identity, belonging, grief and sorrow. The Witness will share how applying images to fresh leaves and paper has allowed them to process t...
Walk on the Wild Side
Walk on the Wild Side
Join horticulture staff and experienced volunteers on a walk around the Blomquist Garden of Native Plants to learn about connections between people, plants and place. Each month will feature a different seasonal topic related to gardening with native plants.
Japanese Tea Gathering: Children’s Day
Japanese Tea Gathering: Children’s Day
Join Chizuko Sueyoshi and members of the Japanese Tea Practitioners of Durham for a moment of respite in the Duke Gardens teahouse, where you will experience the centering calm of a traditional Japanese tea gathering. Enjoy the aesthetics, poetry and serenity of this ri...
Adult Education Calendar
Please click the blue rectangles on the calendar below to learn more about upcoming events.
Japanese Tea Gatherings Duke Gardens is delighted to host Japanese tea gatherings in the Durham-Toyama Sister Cities Pavilion & Garden a few times per year, depending on the availability of the Japanese Tea Practitioners of Durham, who are the hostesses of the teas. The dates are decided as the year progresses, and registration is available on our website. The tea gatherings have a very small capacity (usually 6-8 participants) and nearly always sell out quickly. Please check our Adult Education webpage to see when teas have been added. You can also subscribe to our free monthly e-newsletter using this form to learn more about what’s happening in the gardens.
Learn More About the Durham-Toyama Sister Cities Pavilion & Garden at Duke Gardens ›
Video Highlights
Enjoy these how-to highlights from our YouTube channel, where you will find more video resources to continue your Gardens learning journey at any time, in any location.
Video Highlights
Enjoy these how-to highlights from our YouTube channel, where you will find more video resources to continue your Gardens learning journey at any time, in any location.
Visit our resource library for more learning opportunities, from nature meditations to collaborative science and so much more.
Learn More ›
Questions about adult education?
Please contact us at 919-668-1707 or GardensEducation@duke.edu.