Duke Gardens

As part of our staycation, Jeramie, Ethan, and myself took a trip to Duke Gardens this past Saturday.  It is located on the campus of Duke University in Durham, and can act as a retreat of sorts for families who find themselves at Duke University Medical Center.  In spite of all the time we've spent at Duke, we've never made our way over to the gardens.  However, a couple of weeks ago, I read this post by a friend of mine.  Her photos were a reminder that we needed to visit, and more than convinced me that it needed to be soon! Sandwiches, snacks, and a few outside toys found their way into a picnic basket, and away we went...

On the way to the gardens we were talking to Ethan about all the different types of flowers we would see there.  I asked him what colors he thought they would be and he responded matter-of-factly with "blue".  I was a little nervous that he would end up learning a lesson in disappointment, but I figured if anywhere had blue flowers it would be Duke Gardens.

I wish y'all could have seen his face when he spotted these beauties...

He was so proud, and so excited - even if they did look slightly purple!

The area we spent the most time visiting was breathtaking.  There were flowers everywhere you looked, and I couldn't help but hear Jars of Clay's "Love Song for a Savior" run through my head.

"In open fields of wild flowers..."

There was so much life to take in.  From the buzzing bees, to the visitors, to the flowers themselves, to a 3-year old boy who very well could have never had the opportunity to visit such a place.

I loved every fragrant second of it.

The day couldn't have been more beautiful and the company couldn't have been better.  Duke Gardens, we will be back.