Ladew Topiary Gardens
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ladew Topiary Gardens (22 acres) are nonprofit gardens with topiary located at 3535 Jarrettsville Pike, Monkton, Maryland. They are open April through October weekdays and weekends; an admission fee is charged.
The gardens were established in the 1930s by socialite and huntsman Harvey S. Ladew (1887-1976), who in 1929 had bought a 250-acre farm to build his estate. Both the grounds and his house opened to the public in 1971.
Garden design is strongly influenced by Ladew's numerous winters in England, where he went fox hunting. It contains 15 garden rooms, each devoted to a single color, plant or theme, arranged around two cross axes with vistas. The axes meet in an oval swimming pool.
The garden is particularly noted for its topiary, which the Garden Club of America has described as "the most outstanding topiary garden in America." Its best-known topiary depicts a fox hunt with horses, riders, dogs, and fox all clearing a hedge. It also contains a 1.5 mile nature walk. The house is also open for tours, and contains a good collection of antique English furniture.
