Ladew Topiary Gardens
A topiary garden estate with themed rooms in Monkton, Maryland
Ladew Topiary Gardens is a 22-acre public garden in Monkton, Maryland, known for its elaborate topiary and themed garden rooms. Created in the 1930s by Harvey S. Ladew, the gardens feature sculpted hedges, a nature walk, and a historic house with antique English furniture, open to visitors from April through October.
- Features 15 themed garden rooms with unique colors or plants
- Famous for topiary sculptures of animals and scenes
- Includes a 1.5-mile nature walk for visitors
- Historic house with an acclaimed oval library
- Open to the public from April through October
What is Ladew Topiary Gardens?
Ladew Topiary Gardens covers 22 acres and is famous for its living sculptures, or topiary, shaped into animals, ships, and scenes. The grounds are divided into 15 garden rooms, each with its own theme, color, or plant focus. Visitors also find a 1.5-mile nature walk, an oval swimming pool at the garden's center, and a historic house filled with antique English furniture. The oval library in the house is especially admired.
The history of Ladew Topiary Gardens
Harvey S. Ladew, a socialite and fox hunter, began creating the gardens in the 1930s after buying a large farm in Monkton, Maryland. Inspired by gardens he saw during his travels in England, Ladew designed the topiary and garden rooms himself. The house, which dates back to the late 18th century, was expanded over time. Both the house and gardens were opened to the public in 1971.
What there is to see
The gardens are arranged along two main axes that cross at an oval swimming pool. Each of the 15 garden rooms focuses on a single color, plant, or theme. The topiary sculptures include scenes of a fox hunt, swans, a giraffe, and a Chinese sailing ship. The grounds also feature a nature walk for visitors. The house displays antique English furniture and the notable oval library.
When to go
Ladew Topiary Gardens is open to visitors from April through October. Guests can explore the themed garden rooms, view the topiary sculptures, walk the nature trail, and tour the historic house. The gardens host visitors on both weekdays and weekends, with an admission fee. The site is recognized for its horticultural artistry and historic value.
Parts and collections
The garden rooms each have a distinct theme or color, such as single-color plantings or specific plant types. The topiary sculptures vary from animals to ships and hunting scenes, reflecting Ladew's interests and travels. The house itself shows architectural changes from the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries.
Why Ladew Topiary Gardens matters
Ladew Topiary Gardens has been called the most outstanding topiary garden in America by the Garden Club of America. The New York Times described it as an exquisite garden estate. The oval library in the house is listed among America's most beautiful rooms. The gardens are a landmark for topiary art and garden design in the United States.
Questions people ask about Ladew Topiary Gardens
Where is Ladew Topiary Gardens located?
Ladew Topiary Gardens is in Monkton, Maryland, in the United States. It is situated on Jarrettsville Pike in Baltimore County.
What makes Ladew Topiary Gardens special?
The gardens are known for their elaborate topiary sculptures shaped into animals and scenes, as well as themed garden rooms and a historic house with antique English furniture.
When can visitors tour the gardens?
Ladew Topiary Gardens is open to the public from April through October, on both weekdays and weekends. An admission fee is charged.
What can you see at Ladew Topiary Gardens?
Visitors can explore 15 garden rooms, view topiary sculptures, walk a 1.5-mile nature trail, and tour the historic house and its oval library.
Who created Ladew Topiary Gardens?
Harvey S. Ladew, a socialite and huntsman, designed and established the gardens in the 1930s after being inspired by gardens he saw in England.
Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Ladew Topiary Gardens", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). Phool rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Opening times, prices and bloom dates change: check with the place before you travel. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-03.
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