The Duke Mansion in Charlotte, N.C., embarks on a two-year project to enhance its current 4.5 acres of gardens and grounds in honor of the mansion's 100th anniversary.

The Duke Mansion, the former home of Duke University's namesake, James Buchanan Duke, and his daughter, heiress Doris Duke, is launching a campaign that will include a two-year project to enhance its 4.5 acres of gardens and grounds in honor of the mansion's 100th anniversary.

The landscape crew at the mansion is working closely with Four Star Greenhouse in Carleton, Mich. to design the enhanced gardens. Tom Smith, Four Star's president, is personally involved to make sure the plant selections thrive in that area's climate. Another part of this public/private partnership is Providence Landscape Group in Charlotte, which will also help design, as well as install and maintain the gardens in a trade relationship valued at $100,000 per year.

Management at the Duke Mansion states that the changes will make it much easier for visitors to see many Mecklenburg County Treasure Trees, which are the oldest or best example of a particular species, and other plantings at the mansion, some of which are approaching 100 years old.

Also planned in the upgrade is a new walking path to encourage visitors to enjoy the entire garden and allow easy pedestrian access from neighborhood roads. In addition, the enhanced garden will connect to two parks, making an area of some 15 acres available to stroll and explore.

Two of the refurbished gardens are already complete, and another is scheduled to be finished this fall. The goal is to have the entire enhanced garden ready by the mansion's 100th anniversary in 2015.

Recently the mansion announced its selection as the only Proven Winners Signature Garden in the Southeast.

The mansion is now a non-profit bed and breakfast inn and meeting place.