Visiting Ladew Topiary Gardens
I always try to make the most of business trips by visiting beautiful and interesting places in between scheduled commitments.
During a recent visit to Maryland I had the opportunity to visit Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, just north of Baltimore. Ladew features more than 100 larger than life topiary forms across 22 acres and surrounding an historic Manor House designed and developed by topiary enthusiast, Harvey S. Ladew. As luck would have it, I not only toured the exquisite gardens, but also attended its 17th annual Garden Festival - a specialty plant, garden ornament, and antiques sale with more than 40 vendors from around the region.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
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- When Harvey Ladew first purchased his Maryland property, he decided he would take on the task of planning and landscaping the gardens himself. I am sure he would be proud of what it looks like today. This is a view across the Great Bowl to the Terraces of the Ladew Manor House. (Photo by Jim Lockard Photography)
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- The 18th century historic Manor House was completed over three centuries and houses Harvey’s collection of English antiques and equestrian-themed art. The Manor House was a great inspiration for the gardens. (Photo by Helen Norman)
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- Harvey Ladew began developing his gardens in 1937. After seeing many European gardens, he decided his would have two cross axes to allow for long vistas. The axes would intersect at a swimming pool placed in the center of what is called the Great Bowl. (Photo courtesy of Ladew)
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- These topiaries are yews, Taxus, and create the wall of the Great Bowl.
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- Here is a reproduction of what inspired Harvey’s love for topiaries. He had passed a similar sculpted scene during a hunt in England – topiary hounds chasing a fox. In his rendition, he also added riders on their trusted mounts.
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- Here is one planted over a fence. It is one of the most well-loved topiaries in the garden.
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- In all, there are more than 100 larger than life topiary forms at Ladew. (Photo courtesy of Ladew)
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- Here is another topiary on the terrace – simple in design, but wonderfully sculpted.
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- Here I am at the top of the steps into Harvey’s Garden of Eden. The steps are inscribed with one of his favorite Chinese proverbs – and one of mine, too. It says, “If you want to be happy for a week, take a wife, if you want to be happy for a month kill your pig, but if you would be happy all your life, plant a garden.”
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- In this corner is a bench in a nook built into the wall of the Rose Garden. The arch features Rosa ‘New Dawn’.
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- In almost every view around the Manor, one sees mature and meticulously groomed topiary forms.
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- In the foreground is Nepeta, also known as catmint. In the background is Stachys byzantina ‘Helene von Stein’ with underplanting emerging roses.
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- Here, topiaries also accent the tulip beds in the Croquet Court.
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- And this is a view of the Victorian Garden fountain through a bed of rhododendrons and towering Cryptomeria.
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- On this day, I was lucky to also attend Ladew’s 17th annual Garden Festival.
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- Hundreds attend this event every year to browse the more than 40 vendor tents. (Photo by Jim Lockard Photography)
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- Ornamental garden fountains, urns, and furniture can be found at the Festival…
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- … along with many rare and interesting perennials and annuals, and small trees. Some of the proceeds of the event go to the maintenance and preservation of Ladew.
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- Here is a colorful selection of Salvia nemerosa, also known as meadow sage.
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- And this is Sarracenia or pitcher plants – they’re carnivorous.
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- Here I am with renowned hellebores expert, David Culp. I’ve known him for may years. You may have seen him on my television shows. It was good to catch up with him at Ladew.
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- Visitors can pick up their purchases at a designated spot. It is very well organized and managed.
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- And here I am with David, the Garden Festival co-chairs Lynn Janney, Stiles Colwill, Dudley Mason, and Ladew Director, Emily Emerick. If you’re ever in the area, I encourage you to visit Ladew Topiary Gardens.
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