One of the many things I love about going to Ladew Topiary Gardens is that the blooming season out in Monkton is at least 10 days behind our garden here in Roland Park.
Chasing spring is something I love to do. And this year, with so many cool days, spring on the East Coast has been gloriously long.
Last week I had a meeting at Ladew. I cannot go there for any reason without running through some of the gardens. As is true everywhere in Baltimore this spring, the tulips seemed particularly large and radiant. It’s a good year for tulips.
While the daffodils in our garden were long gone, they still grew among the tulips and throughout the gardens at Ladew.
Even on a gallop through the gardens, the plantings and the meticulous maintenance always inspire. A unique shade of maroon pansies caught my eye around the small fountain in the Berry garden.
Ditto a stand of redbuds at the entrance and snowdrop anemones near the Manor House.
Every spring, when I see those anemones, I remind myself to plant some. Ditto the Virginia bluebells.
The massing of tulips and daffodils in the Cottage garden, with a striking combination of pansies in its urns, showed how shades of red, orange and purple could play well together.
Yellow tulips dancing below a window box near the shop highlighted a subtle planting of succulents. Artistry of plant combinations is everywhere at Ladew.
I regret that I can’t go out to the annual Garden Festival this year. I can only imagine the hundreds of rare plants I’d meet. But I am counting the days until my next scheduled visit later in May, when I hope the renowned collection of irises will be as flouncy and full as the tulips have been this spring.
Kathy, you’ve just described heaven!!!!
Beauties all, caught even while galloping, you and the resident animals!