“In the beginning, I simply wanted pots and seeds to grow pollinator plants, because I thought that planting into the ground would be too steep of a goal… But over time, it became clear that this garden would grow into something much deeper, and much larger than I ever could have anticipated.”
Lindsey Zipperer, a first-year Duke PA Student and Stead Society Chair of Wellness and Sustainability, started with just a simple idea: to promote sustainability and attract natural pollinators on campus by planting flowers and herbs. In February, Zipperer and her executive team (Maguette Seye, Skyler Gubbels, Veronica Quiroz-Olivares, and Tori Falconer), applied for the SCALe Mini Grant, offered by the Office of Climate and Sustainability to fund pots, soil, and small plants. Grace Pulliam also contributed to the grant writing process, helping bring the team’s vision to life.
In her initial grant interest form, Zipperer wrote, “Unfortunately, we cannot plant directly into the ground due to Duke guidelines, so this money will be used to purchase pots, soil, and seeds to plant above ground and even in the building. Our hope is that this natural pollinator initiative will encourage students and staff to promote sustainability both on our campus and in their own lives”.
After receiving the SCALe Mini-Grant, Zipperer was encouraged by the Office of Climate and Sustainability to expand the project beyond small plants. This inspired her and the team to plan a much larger garden and connect with local partners for support.
The team received more than 400 plants, including cherry trees, shrubs, and perennials, all donated by several local nurseries. These plants now fill over 2,600 square feet of land, forming the on-campus garden. This garden not only promotes sustainability and local biodiversity but also serves as a space for healing and provides education on the importance of native plants in the environment.
Last month, on May 17th, Duke PA students hosted Planting Day, where donors, alumni, Duke PA faculty/staff, and other members of the community came together to transform the team’s vision into a living space. The team has been supported by botanical and planning experts Annabel Renwick of Duke Gardens and Fionna Matthews from Leaf and Limb, along with Roger Conner, Superintendent of Tree Management with Duke Facilities, and Chris Chandler from Facilities Support.
Their guidance has been key to ensuring the gardens’ success, planning and longevity. This event will mark a major milestone for the Class of 2026, as they will leave behind a special place not just for the program, but for the Durham community.
“As future healthcare providers, we are deeply invested in creating a space that promotes healing, mindfulness, and restoration. The garden is intended to serve as a sanctuary for reflection, stress relief, and wellness—not just for PA students, but for the wider Duke community”.
- Duke PA Wellness Garden Team.
None of this would have been possible without the help of an incredibly dedicated team of students, staff, faculty, and community partners. Their hard work brought this vision to life.
Acknowledgments and Thanks
- Wellness and Sustainability Chair: Lindsey Zipperer
- Grant Writing team: Lindsey Zipperer, Grace Pulliam, Skyler Gubbels, Veronica Quiroz-Olivares
- Executive Student Team: Maguette Seye, Skyler Gubbels, Veronica Quiroz-Olivares, Tori Falconer
- Duke PA Class of 2026 that contributed to Planting Day
Faculty, Staff, and Garden Support:
- Annabel Renwick: Duke Gardens
- Fiona Matthews: Leaf and Limb
- Roger Conner: Duke Landscaping
- Chris Chandler: Facilities Support
- Dr. Jacqueline Barnett – Division Chief and Program Director
- Jody Crabtree - Facilities Support and Staff Advisor
- Emily Bilcik - Assistant Director Office of Climate & Sustainability
- Lauren Smith Hong – Duke Gardens Communications
- Kyla Fisher - Duke PA Program Communications and Recruitment Coordinator
- Stephen Schramm – Duke Today
Sponsors and Donors:
- Duke Sustainability Office – Grant funding
- Keep Durham Beautiful – Donated planting tools
- Durham Co-op Market – Donated healthy snacks, fruits, and seed packages
- Durham Produce Farm - Donated planting tools
- LeWell
- DuWell
- Taylor’s Nursery
- Hoffman’s Nursery
- Adcock’s Nursery
- Deep Roots Native Nursery
- Plantworks Nursery
Student Volunteers:
-
Outreach
- Signage: Sarah Markantonis
- Website: Samantha Fortier
- Social Media:
- Kyla Fisher
- Temitope Ogunnaike
- Kiera Brown
- Sponsor + Community Outreach:
- Daren Solis
- Kianna Lawrence
- Alexander ‘Tram’ Whitehurst
-
Event Day:
- Hamed Akrami
- Marissa Mattys
- Melia Pavelek
- Emily Hobus
- Jeannie Nghiem
- Tarra Taylor
- Janis Tsai
- Emily Walden
- Bree Kushneski
- Mariel Gampe
- Sarah Markantonis
We invite everyone in the Duke and Durham community to visit the Wellness Garden and experience this living space of healing and sustainability.
Explore additional details about the Duke PA Wellness Garden here:
- Duke University Office of Climate and Sustainability Garden Article