Ladew Topiary GardensHarvey Smith Ladew II (1887-1976)

Born into privilege in New York City, 43-year-old Harvey Smith Ladew bought a 250-acre farm in rural Maryland in 1929. After devoting several years to the expansion and renovation of the property’s old farmhouse, he cleared 22 acres for the creation of an extensive garden. A self-taught garden designer and gardener, Ladew planned and planted fifteen “garden rooms” for the site, each devoted to one color, plant, or theme. He was particularly taken with topiary, creating over 100 designs. Using a mix of hemlock and yew, Ladew sculpted hedges into curtains; shaped bushes into pyramids, cubes, and spheres; and produced a whimsical menagerie of animals, including swans, sea horses, and a giraffe. A foxhunting enthusiast, he created a dynamic hunting scene, in which a topiary fox, pursued by equally planted rider and hounds, can never be caught.

In his later years, Harvey Ladew resolved to preserve his creation for future generations and a non-profit organization was formed to maintain his gardens and home. Ladew Topiary Gardens welcomes visitors from April through October.

~Holly Metz

topiary

3535 Jarrettsville Pike
4, Marshall, Maryland, 21111 us
Latitude/Longitude: 39.5806036 / -76.5133174

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