“When at last I took the time to look into the heart of a flower, it opened up a whole new world; a world where every country walk would be an adventure, where every garden would become an enchanted one.” — Grace Kelly
Spending time in a garden is always time well spent. When I’m looking to get away for a few hours, one of my favorite places to visit is the gardens at the Duke Mansion. It’s one of those areas of Charlotte where over hundred-year-old trees scatter the sunlight across the road, and stately homes are tucked into beautiful neighborhoods that I’ve always dreamed of living in.
Nestled in one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Charlotte, located near Providence and Queens Road the Duke Mansion has been a Charlotte landmark since 1915.
Since becoming an aunt, I’ve looked forward to bringing my nieces to visit the garden, and a few weeks ago we took Cecileia and Charlotte to visit the Duke for the first time. This visit also marked Charlotte’s first-ever visit to the city of Charlotte.
For those familiar with the Duke, the Mary DBT Semans gardens are open to the public during the daylight hours most days with the exception of special events. You can enter the gardens on either side of the house, but we prefer to start on the left side of the house and work our way around.
For this particular visit to the Duke, I took wore this beautiful white and blue floral dress I picked up recently from LOFT. Wearing a floral dress when exploring a garden seems the fitting thing to do, and this dress is ideal in the warmer months with its breathable fabric and puffed cap sleeves. This dress is currently sold out at Loft, but I found another similar option at Anthropologie that has me feeling like there is no such thing as too many blue and white floral dresses.
I paired my look with the beautiful Alice Woven Tote that is also available in a mini version. It’s just the right size to carry all of your essentials without being overly large and it also comes with a strap if you prefer a crossbody look. If you’re planning on using this tote with a solid look versus a print, you can “zhuzh” it up with a patterned scarf like this beautiful blue and white floral scarf.
Since you want this dress to speak for itself, I kept my accessories simple, a vintage pearl necklace from my mom (because you never need an excuse to wear pearls) and the delicate Corda Fine Friendship Bracelet from Monica Vinader. It’s one of my favorite pieces from the brand, and I always look forward to pairing it with a variety of different looks through the spring and summer seasons. Having a classic go-to jewelry piece that you can wear from year to year, is always a worthwhile investment.
A visit to the Barry Children’s Garden, or as I like to call it, the Peter Rabbit Garden, is a must if you’re visiting the Duke Mansion Gardens with littles. There are plenty of exciting places to explore, from a play area to this tree featuring Peter Rabbit along with his mom and sisters, Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail.
Dress (Loft, sold out, similar, similar) // Woven Alice Tote (Fable) // Perfect Block Sandal in Gold Nappa (Sarah Flint) // Corda Fine Friendship Bracelet (Monica Vinader) // Pearls (borrowed)
Get $50 off your first order from Sarah Flint with the code: SARAHFLINT-BACHRISTA and 20% off your order from Monica Vinader with the code: US20RAFINSIDER-F6C1
“In my mind, no other flower can compete with the perfection and the fragrance of the Peony.” — Chantal Larocque
Dress (Loft, sold out, similar, similar) // Woven Alice Tote (Fable) // Perfect Block Sandal in Gold Nappa (Sarah Flint) // Corda Fine Friendship Bracelet (Monica Vinader) // Pearls (borrowed)
I love bringing along a book to the gardens when it’s just my mom and I dropping by for an afternoon or morning visit. There are benches throughout the garden, but I quite prefer this shady spot which often includes views of peonies, hydrangeas, and bumblebees that buzz by for a quick hello.
“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” — Audrey Hepburn
No visit to Duke Mansion Gardens is complete without a visit to the Woodland Retreat. We brought along our own little woodland fairy, Miss Charlotte Rey. I may be a bit biased as her auntie, but I think she’s the prettiest little fairy to have had her picture taken on her woodland throne.
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