More to Do

Exploration Station

On select Saturdays, enrich your visit with information and free activities led by Duke Gardens and Durham community partners. Plant a seed to take home, ask your garden questions, pick up a seasonal observation bingo sheet to explore with, and more!
FREE drop-in event; no registration necessary.

2023 

Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Stop by for activities and resources from Durham County Library and Duke Gardens. You can participate in the Durham Bioblitz, plant a seed to take home, learn about STEAM services at the library, get information about the Digging Durham Seed Library, ask your garden questions, pick up a seasonal observation bingo sheet to explore with, and more!

​Check back for additional dates and which Durham community partners will be joining us.

Try these anytime

Enrich your visit to Duke Gardens with our self-guided exploration resources! Choose one or more of these things to do on your own or with others and deepen your experience.

Chat with an Ambassador - (for everyone)

Find a Duke Gardens ambassador (wearing a name tag or green vest) and ask them your questions! Learn what interesting things are growing or blooming right now, their favorite place to visit, or just how to find the nearest restroom.

Spring 2023: Look for ambassadors at the Gothic Gate, the Blomquist Gatehouse, the Terrace Gardens or driving around in a cart.

Check out What's in Bloom - (for everyone)

Below are some plants that are especially interesting or typically in bloom this month at Duke Gardens. Every year unfolds differently, depending on seasonal weather conditions.

See What's in Bloom here.

Contribute to Collaborative Science (for everyone)

Collaborative science (also called citizen science or community science) is when people who aren't professional scientists help to collect and analyze information used to answer research questions that can't be studied without a large group of people. There are many projects you can participate in from Duke Gardens. Here are a few of our favorites:

Bumble Bee Watch is a collaborative effort to track and conserve North America’s bumble bees.

eBird data document bird distribution, abundance, habitat use and trends through checklist data collected within a simple scientific framework.

In GLOBE Observer, your observations help scientists track changes in clouds, water, plants and other life in support of climate research. 

iNaturalist is a place where you can record what you see in nature, meet other nature lovers and learn about the natural world. 

ISeeChange is dedicated to empowering communities to document and understand their environment, weather and climate in order to increase resilience.

Project BudBurst is a network of citizen scientists that tracks changes in plant seasons to assist scientists studying climate.

Use Identification Tools (for everyone)

Many of the plants in our collection have labels, but the animals or fungi that live here don't. If you want to figure out what that thing is, try using these tools:

Merlin Bird ID asks you a few simple questions about your bird observation and finds out what species you're most likely to encounter, offering photos, sounds and more information.

The Dragonfly ID app is a comprehensive and easy-to-use resource to find and identify dragonflies and damselflies across the U.S. and Canada.

Herps of NC provides information about every species of amphibian and reptile found in North Carolina.

FloraQuest ($7.99) connects you with everything you need to know about naturally occurring plants in the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic U.S.

Play & Learn with Family Activities (for adults with children in pre-K through 8th grade)

ecoEXPLORE, for children in grades K-8, combines science exploration with kid-friendly technology to foster a fun learning environment for children while encouraging them to explore the outdoors and participate in citizen science. Duke Gardens is an ecoEXPLORE Hot Spot.

Make new discoveries as you observe your way through the Gardens with Observation Bingo! Use the pdf or online versions, and check back for new activities.

Looking for more ways to enhance your visit? Check out our children & family programs.