Planting Seeds Of Peace
From the Duke Magazine - November/December 2001

The ninth garden in the international network of Gardens for Peace has been dedicated in the Asiatic Arboretum in the Sarah P. Duke Gardens.

Laura Dorsey, founder of the network, took part in an October ceremony that designated the site as a special place for reflection, meditation, and spiritual renewal. It is open to visitors during regular hours.

"We're delighted to have this new distinction conferred on Duke Gardens," says Larry Daniel, Duke Gardens' associate director. "But more than that, we're pleased to be a member of Gardens for Peace. It's a great organization with a noble purpose." Gardens for Peace was created to promote the concept of the garden as a place of meditation and peace. Throughout history, the organization notes, the garden has symbolized the ideals of spiritual harmony and quiet contemplation, as reflected in religion, mythology, literature, and philosophy.

To be designated, a garden must meet general criteria and be approved by the organization's board of directors. For instance, it must have a feeling of peace and tranquility, a sense of safety and refuge, and certain visual elements. The other peace gardens in the network can be found in Atlanta; Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia; Madrid, Spain; Tacoma, Washington; Nairobi, Kenya; Decatur, Georgia; and Seoul, Korea.