Blooming Garden Inn

A B&B is only as wonderful as its hosts, and Dolly and Frank are exceptional. Staying at their inn was like being taken into family, only theirs is more fun then mine ever was! Even though we were in Durham on a cold, rainy January weekend, their garden still blooms.

The Blooming Garden Inn is an oasis in the middle of Durham. Just minutes from downtown and the Duke Hospital/University area it is quiet, comfortable, and relaxing. Frank and Dolly are wonderful hosts who are quite willing to share stories and experiences with you. We were introduced to several things at breakfast that have now become favorites with my wife and I. There's nothing like a swing or glider on the wrap-around porch to just melt the tension of the day away. If you need a place to stay in Durham you can't do better than the Blooming Garden Inn!

My daughter and I had a very intersting stay at the inn. The one night we stayed there it felt like we were transported to the world of the 1800s (with all the amenities of the 21st century). The inn is a restored house from the 1800s and once you enter its doors the antique furnishings and decorations help take you to another era. It's homey atmosphere and gracious hosts add to the fullness of the experience. A tasteful and wholsome breakfast in antique dishes are again a wonderful addition to the flavor. In short, we had a memorable and a very refreshing stay at the inn.

We stayed 3 nights while my spouse had surgery at Duke. Frank and Dolly went out of their way to help by driving me to a pharmacy, a market and to get take-out dinners as I had never been to Durham. They made us perfectly comfortable in their home and we thoroughly enjoyed the breakfasts; especially the ginger waffles with lemon curd, Amish butter and FRESH fruit! Their home is lovely and the porch is delightful; they are a fabulous couple!

The azaleas were lush, the tulips bright in the spring sunshine, but above that all was the kind and particular service of Frank and Dolly. Breakfast was tailored to our needs, family coming in and out of Durham were graciously accommodated. If a friendly family type setting.....with loads of antiques from Dolly's days as an antique dealer...suits you, this is a great Band B.

Frank and Dolly do everything to make your stay a pleasure, from the glass of wine and nibbles served the moment you walk through the door, to the great conversations and story-telling, through to breakfast, which is a real treat too. Lovely room in a beautiful house. Highly recommended.

I stayed at the Holly house, which is specifically for extended stays, during a visit to Duke University. It was a pleasant relief and welcome change to the small hotel rooms or studio flats that become the norm for extended stays. I highly recommend staying at the Holly house and take advantage of the "Home away from home": the large kitchen (oven,washing/drying machines), tv room, reading areas really make difference. Frank and Dolly go the extra mile to ensure that your stay is as pleasant and comfortable as possible. The location is good with easy transport links via the Bull City Connector, as free bus service that traverses the city and links the B&B with the central areas, bus/train station and Duke.

I visited the Blooming Garden Inn while working at the Duke University for some days. The house had all, what I could desire and the stay was very pleasant. Frank and Dolly where extremely helpful, and interested in making my stay as good as possible. Choose this if you want to meet some really nice people, and stay in a unique place. Morten, DK.

We stayed five weeks in June-July with Frank and Dolly, who were very kind to us. We stayed in two different rooms at the inn, including the suite (very interesting long-stay rates) and got to use the kitchen at the Holy house just accross the street. The rooms are beautifully decorated, the porch is very nice to stay in. Frank and Dolly told us about Bele Chere in Asheville so we ended up meeting there (we were on our way to Virginia) and had a great time together. We are French and are not used to meeting such friendly people ! We really enjoyed our stay a lot !!!

WE had a wonderful stay here. Frank and Dollie were a delightful couple that catered to our every need from dawn to well into the evening. The antique furnishings were very comfortable, but it was their hospitality that stood out. They are witty, charming and thoughtful. Dollie is a hostess that shames Dolly Madison. Frank prepared a warm, gourmet breakfast each morning. Each day a new surprise. His berries from the garden were delicious. He provided Amish butter for his tasty waffles and panqueques. WE would have loved to have stayed longer, but alas had to return home. We look forward to future visits.

We booked a night at the Blooming Garden Inn because we were attending a David Gray concert at DPAC. I wish we would have made reservations for the entire weekend. It was cozy, inviting, an Frank and Dolly are wonderful people. Frank's an excellent cook too. We will be going back to DPAC for events in the future and will definitely stay with them again.

My husband and I were searching for a place to enjoy a weekend together that focused on rest and relaxation. We hit the jackpot with Blooming Gardens. The rooms and atmosphere of the inn were welcoming and endearing. Frank and Dolly were delightful to meet. Located in the Triangle, there was a lot to do and see, while the Inn was comfortable and inviting for a day long stay in. We plan on returning in the future.

Dolly and Frank [resident propriators] operate a lovely Bed & Breakfast. Fascinating history, decor and physical setting. If your fortunate Dolly will give you an informative overview of the City of Durham [particularily if your running cross-town to Bullocks for barbeque.] Fortunate too if Frank takes you on a tour of both the B&B and the Extended Stay residence across the street also historic and owned by your hosts.

Great accommodations in a historic home that has been lovingly renovated. The owners make you feel right at home. The food and conversation are excellent. Highly recommended. Kenny Johnson Montgomery, Alabama

My daughter and I stayed at Dolly and Frank's extended stay Inn called Holly House. This beautifully restored Victorian home was very comfortable, clean and quiet. We enjoyed using the kitchen to cook meals with the local products we purchased at the Farmer's Market. The Holly House is centrally located making it easy to explore Durham. Frank and Dolly provided some of the best customer service we have ever experienced. They are true gems, great ambassadors for Durham and as Frank would say simply "marvelous".

I was considering relocating to Durham from Oakland and renovating a historic property. So I visited and stayed at Blooming Garden, which was itself a 3 and a half year restoration. The inn was charming, our room was quiet and very comfortable (Firm bed, lots of pillows.) The best part of the stay was just hanging out with Dolly and Frank. The service, from breakfast to sharing wine in the early evening was outstanding. If I ever need a definition of good service it would have to be "the innkeepers staying up for you because your flight is 2 and a half hours late, you arrive at 2:30 in the morning and they are still charming." I wouldn't think of staying any other place when I visit Durham.

The hosts made us feel at home and were helpful with all our needs during out stay in Durham. We had a marvelous time getting to know people in through the hosts. A wonderful and relaxing place to stay.

The Blooming Garden Inn, within walking distance of newly renovated downtown Durham and less than 2 miles from Duke University, is a cut above the average Bed and Breakfast. The minute you step inside the door of this quaint, beautiful Inn, Frank and Dolly will greet you as if you are beloved family members. They provide a brief orientation trip of the downtown area in their private car, invite you to sit and have a drink and a chance to unwind, and they go out of their way to make you feel at-home comfortable during your entire stay. I can't say enough good things about this B&B, and I highly recommend it for any occasion, be it business, family or college get-togethers, girls weekends or a romantic get-away with a significant other. Be assured Frank and Dolly will make your stay a memorable one. LOVED Sarah (the german shepherd) and the kitties. The grounds are full of flowers and gorgeously kept. Location couldn't be more convenient - less than a mile to the Carolina Theater and the new Performing Arts Center in Durham. I plan on being back again soon on business, but will plan future trips there for pleasure, as well. Thanks again, Frank and Dolly, for everything! Mary in West Virginia

My husband and I were looking for a place to stay during the time surrounding my cancer surgery at Duke. We wanted a place where we could cook our own meals, but the suites hotels seemed a little too cold and impersonal to suit us. When we discovered that Blooming Garden Inn provided rooms at Holly House, their extended stay home across the street from the B&B, we contacted Dolly and Frank and decided to stay there. We were so right in our choice! It's difficult to recount all the kindnesses done for us by Dolly and Frank, as well as by the other residents at Holly House. Most special to me personally was the help we received when Duke released me from outpatient surgery. I needed more help than my husband alone could provide getting in from the car and for the first several hours. Dolly and Frank, as well as the other guests, did everything possible to make me comfortable. (Dolly even took my husband to the pharmacy to fill my prescription for pain medication!) Their kindness and caring continued throughout our visit. Dolly took us on a driving tour of her favorite places around Durham.... they made us a big pot of soup.... and on our last night in Durham, we went to dinner with them and other guests at one of their favorite restaurants. Dolly and Frank have lovingly restored both Holly House and Blooming Garden Inn, have filled them with antiques and too many other special things to mention, and have shared their home with guests. Although I hope I won't need surgery again (at Duke or anywhere else), I would not hesitate to stay with Dolly and Frank in the future. In fact, if we're ever in that part of North Carolina again, I hope we'll at least go out to dinner with them! Who would ever have believed that an unpleasant hospital visit could provide an opportunity to make several new friends? But that's exactly what happened.

This was one of our favorite bed and breakfast experiences. The hosts were very attentive to our needs, sharing their love of the city with us, giving us directions, and suggesting fine places to eat. They were very warm and welcoming and we will return the next time we are in the Durham area!

The home is very cozy and the owners are very warm and friendly people. The food choices were plentiful and were always a delight.

My wife and I enjoyed our stay at this thoughtfully restored Victorian house in the heart of Durham, NC. The proprietors & other guests were warm & friendly. The gourmet breakfasts were right to our tastes, simply but elegantly prepared & also delicious. If we have occasion to visit Durham again, the Blooming Garden Inn is the first place we will seek.

I highly recommend the blooming garden Inn. Enjoy!

THis was a lovely home located near the down town of Durham and just 2 miles from Duke University. We enjoyed good food, good conversation and a lovely room.

This is the place to stay, if you're in the area. My husband and I had a wonderful experience. The owners are so very nice and the breakfast was top notch. rooms are very clean and elegant! Extremely comfortable

Clean and spacious rooms and two very friendly hosts. Ask for pancakes, they're delicious.

Very comfortable Great decor - Frank and Dolly - very friendly and helpful

Wonderful home, exceptional innkeepers!!

There were 8 of us - all ages, all walks of life sharing breakfast. We learned so much from each other...topics included music artistry, folklore, ghost stories, travels, cemetaries, etc. Quite an example of synergy!

Frank and Dolly pay attention to the detail and go to every effort to make their guests feel pampered and at home. the rooms are very comfortable, breakfasts are amazing- the area is interesting and they are ingaging hosts.- very delightful

My stay Durhan for my CPA Conference was delighful because of the lovely Blooming Garden Inn and its wonderful hosts, Frank and Dolly.