Doris Duke's Gardens will be destroyed after May 25th, 2008.
In a statement, Trustees acknowledged that some individuals are disappointed that the
gardens will "close", but are not prepared to reverse their position. "The decisions about the future opportunities for Duke Farms have been
properly vetted and are totally within the discretion of the boards
under New York state law, as approved by the New York attorney general."
TELL THE TRUSTEES what you think of this:
So long as I am CC'd, I will make sure your letter is seen. Get addresses as text
May 15th: 607 letters sent.
Booklets of the first 260 emails have been sent to each Trustee.
Quote of the Day from Letters:
My relationship with The DisplayGardens goes back to elementary school.
Our class went there on a field trip and I was absolutely fascinated, I used to
daydream about getting locked inside and living secretly under the mammoth
leaves in the tropical rainforest. I went back many times over the years, a
college field trip, with my Mother, my Grandmother, boyfriends, old friends,
new friends... I believe those gardens are a resource that should stay
intact and open to the public. I believe that Doris Duke never intended for it
to be an orchid store, nor did she intend her 'Gardens from Around
the World' to be used as a storage space.
Jeanie Baker, High
Bridge, NJ
Duke Gardens Talking points:
- The Duke Gardens are a work of art created by Doris Duke. Environmentalism should not be linked with the destruction of these Display Gardens.
- The Duke Gardens could be a showcase for carbon-neutral ways to heat and cool: a beacon for people looking for solutions to energy problems in their own homes and communities. Doris Duke became fascinated by the search for alternative sources of energy in her later years.
- The Duke Gardens are one of "1000 places in the US and Canada to see before you die", and you haven't seen them yet. Many Americans may never cross an ocean, but those who can reach the garden have their own 19th century Grand Tour.
- The Duke Gardens are a personal vision that Miss Duke worked for six years to create, traveling the globe seeking specimens and ideas. Once dismantled, they are lost.
- The Duke Gardens were donated to a specific Garden Foundation by Miss Duke in her lifetime. Will others be so willing to leave endowments if such a thing could happen to their legacy?
- The Duke Gardens are a unique and beloved attraction, and the entire State of New Jersey has an interest in their survival.
- The Duke Gardens contain mature tropical trees and cacti that touch the ceilings of the glasshouses. Relocating them seems unlikely.
