Sarah P. Duke Gardens

A number of interesting opportunities for volunteer service are available. A volunteer may wish to work on the same project every week or to work on various projects from week to week. The following list suggests some of the options available to you. The Director of Volunteers will be glad to discuss any other interests you may have for service.

Horticultural: Unless otherwise specified, all horticultural opportunities occur weekdays, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. all year. Volunteers assisting with horticulture-related opportunities are asked to make a minimum commitment of 2 hours per week. Specific horticulture opportunities include:

• Grounds Assistant: Learn planting skills, pruning techniques and other garden maintenance tips from the horticultural staff, as you help to maintain this premier 55 acre public garden. This opportunity enables you to work in all areas throughout the grounds.

• Perennial Assistant: Various collections of perennials, planted throughout the grounds, need routine maintenance to keep this dynamic collection in excellent condition. Weeding, pruning, transplanting and dividing are among the tasks to perform in this area.

• Propagation Assistant: Taking cuttings, collecting seed, dividing and transplanting are several of the needs to further the horticultural collections as well as preparing surplus plants for the plant sale.

• Trails Assistant: Rake, sweep, remove broken and fallen branches and help to keep the many trails and paths throughout Duke Gardens safe for its many visitors.

• Collections Assistant: "Adopt" specific collections of plantings and assume the maintenance requirements to care for them.

• Rose Garden Assistant: Pruning, deadheading, fertilizing along with other general maintenance are needed to keep the 300+ rose collection thriving. The collections of David Austin Roses and selections of Asian species also need attention. April - November commitment.

• Iris Garden Assistant: Weeding, staking, deadheading, and fertilizing the assorted collections of iris throughout the grounds. Help to maintain Duke Gardens' first plant.

• Greenhouse Assistant: Maintain the horticultural greenhouses to ensure the plants have optimal growing conditions by assisting with weed control, pruning, planting, transplanting, watering and fertilization of various plants and reporting any insect or disease problems to the appropriate staff person.

• Arboretum Assistant: Assist the horticulturist in maintaining this 20-acre collection of Asian and American plant species. Adopt specific areas within the arboretum and assume the responsibility and care of these plantings.

• Nursery Assistant: Assist with maintaining the nursery of plants to prepare them for incorporation into the permanent collection through potting, watering, fertilization, weed control, pruning and mulching.

• Terraces Assistant: Help maintain the historical core of Duke Gardens by providing hands-on maintenance in planting, watering, fertilizing, weed control, pruning and mulching. Work directly with staff to remove and install seasonal plantings.

 Educational: Educating visitors about the Gardens is an exciting and rewarding way to help Duke Gardens achieve its mission.

• Docent Guides are needed to lead school groups in the Gardens and in the children’s classroom. Docents are trained and are given support by staff. This is a great opportunity for those interested in working with children and sharing a love of gardening and nature awareness with them.

• Horticultural Therapy & Theurapeutic Gardening - Volunteers make visits to Duke Medical Center Pediatric Units. They bring botanically related activities to pediatric patients and their families. This group also gets together periodically to share ideas, experiences, and to have advanced training.

• Summer Youth Leaders - Youth are invited to become involved in our summer programs. We need a teenage helper for two weeks of our summer camp, and leaders in our Story Time Programs. Youth interested in working with younger children, learning about the Gardens, and willing to share an excitement for nature are welcome.

• Workshop Instructor: Volunteers who are artistically inclined or who have a craft skill can share their abilities through participation in our adult educational series. Please do not be shy in sharing this interest with the Coordinator of Volunteers or the Director of Education.

• Photography: Are you a botanical photographer at heart? Share your photographic ability through photographing plants, events, Garden projects and assembling and creating pictorial calendars, books, notecards, postcards and posters.

 Apply here.