The Gallery Guides of Raleigh

Within the hushed and hallowed halls of the North Carolina Museum of Art, seasoned docents put visitors at ease. These dedicated volunteers connect residents of this state to the works of art we call our own — and remind us that each piece is something worth talking about.

The Maple Brothers

Every year, Tim and Matt Nichols create hundreds of different kinds of Japanese maples — in a dizzying array of shapes and colors and sizes — at their mail-order nursery in East Flat Rock. And every one of the trees has roots in their grandmother’s garden.