(Raleigh, NC) -- Lush surroundings adorned with North Carolina's native plants, meandering walking paths and trickling water features are beginning to bloom at the new Duke Raleigh Gardens. Conveniently nestled on the edge of the Duke Raleigh Hospital campus, the Duke Raleigh Gardens will offer a unique haven for patients, visitors and employees including an events lawn for special occasions and tranquil nooks for sitting and resting.

Located adjacent to Medical Office Building 7 (3404 Wake Forest Road), the Duke Raleigh Gardens are being created in three phases by landscape designer Ran Johnston with Lassiter Mill Gardens and in collaboration with Jeff Evans of Earth Graphics. Phase one is nearing completion and will debut at a Tuscan Garden Party on Sunday, October 7 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Duke Raleigh Guild members, friends and community leaders will attend the party in honor of the generous lead donation given by the family of Duke Raleigh Advisory Board Member Carolyn Grant as well as in celebration of the formal kickoff of fundraising initiatives for the gardens.

Garden party attendees will additionally discover ways to contribute to the gardens including available naming opportunities for attributes such as sitting benches and walkways.

"This is such an exciting time for us as we watch this garden grow into what we hope will be a place of relaxation, serenity and celebration for patients, employees, physicians and anyone who visits our campus," said Doug Vinsel, CEO. "We are pleased to be able to offer such a unique amenity and appreciate the generosity of those who have already stepped forward to help make our gardens possible."

For more information about the Duke Raleigh Gardens or to learn about ways to contribute, please contact Carla Hollis at 954-3257. Media members planning to attend the Garden party should contact Paige Humble at 954-3293.

Duke Raleigh Hospital, a part of the world-renowned Duke University Health System, is a 186-bed acute-care facility on Wake Forest Road in North Raleigh with services including a cancer center, orthopaedic center, diabetes center, wound healing center, 24-hour emergency department, intensive and critical care, cardiovascular center, cardiac and pulmonary rehab wellness services and community education. For more information, visit http://www.dukeraleighhospital.org/ or call 919-954-3293.