For several years now, I’ve wanted to go to the garden and antique festival at Ladew Gardens in Maryland. For one reason or another, I hadn’t made it… until this year! Gretchen and I (she’s always my garden touring partner!) got up at 5am and headed out. We spent some time wandering around the shopping area, we each found a vintage garden tool that we love, and then we spent the rest of the morning touring the gardens. I’m not sure what I expected but I can say that it exceeded whatever expectations I did have!
Ladew Gardens was originally the private property of Harvey S. Ladew. A wealthy man who loved fox hunting, he purchased the property, which was run as a farm, in 1929. Harvey had great interest in the gardens of England and Italy and after a visit there was fascinated with topiary. He went on to creat a topiary garden on his estate with over 100 topiaries! The garden is now a non-profit committed to benefit the public.
I found the topiary fascinating! The creativity and artistry it takes to make them is astounding to me. I now desperately want some topiary on our own farm!
The whimsy of such fantastical things is something that appeals to me, I felt the same way while touring Great Dixter in England. I find the whimsical nature mixed in with the grounded and formal layout of the gardens very satisfying!
The gardens are large and much of it is done on a large scale, with large topiary, large shrubs and sweeping views. However, it’s very well laid out in that it feels like you move from room to room with views of what is to come at just the right moment.
If you have the chance I would certainly recommend a visit, I sure hope to go back!
As an aside, the vases that Gretchen made for our workshop were inspired by our visit and the garland topiary!
