The Stanford L. Warren Demonstration Garden has received international recognition, earning third place in the demonstration garden category of the 2025 David Gibby International Master Gardener Search for Excellence Awards. The award, announced during the 2025 International Master Gardener Conference held virtually from Monday to Thursday, highlights the garden’s role in sustainable gardening education.
According to the Durham County release, the garden, located at the Stanford L. Warren Branch Library on Fayetteville Street in Durham’s historic Hayti Neighborhood, opened in late 2024. It was created through a partnership between N.C. State Extension Master GardenerSM volunteers of Durham County, the Durham County Library, and the Sarah P. Duke Gardens. The project began with design, planting, and cultivation by volunteers and has since attracted a variety of pollinators.
The project’s success was achieved through collaboration among community partners. The garden also serves as an educational space, offering programming that includes the cultural significance of African Americans in gardening and horticulture.
The David Gibby Awards, named after the founder of the Extension Master Gardener program, recognize the work of volunteers in the United States, Canada, England, and South Korea. Judges for the 2025 awards noted the strong partnership behind the Stanford L. Warren project.
The garden has also supported library programming, including The African American Legacy on Gardening and Horticulture Symposium, which connected local history with gardening practices.
