Topiary art dates back to around 44 B.C. and blends masterful sculpting skills with the natural beauty of plants. With an artistic vision and a pair of clippers, people can transform simple shrubs into complex living sculptures. In the United States, curious plant enthusiasts can explore one of the country’s best topiary experiences at Monkton, Maryland’s Ladew Topiary Gardens.
Visitors stepping into the Ladew Topiary Gardens may feel like Alice entering Wonderland. At this Maryland garden, plants aren’t just plants. Instead, they morph into swans, men on horseback, and regal pyramids.
The whimsical creations have earned Ladew a spot on Architectural Digest’s round-up of the world’s best topiary gardens. Even the Garden Club of America has recognized Ladew as the country’s “most outstanding topiary garden.” See the creations that inspired this praise in the gallery of Ladew Topiary Gardens photos below.