Ladew Topiary Gardens: Planning a Day Trip from Baltimore and BWI

About 45 minutes north of downtown Baltimore, past the last of the office parks and into the rolling farmland of northern Harford County, a hunting enthusiast named Harvey S. Ladew spent decades shaping hedges into foxes, hounds, swans and a full hunt scene galloping across a lawn. The result, Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, is one of the best-known topiary gardens in the country and one of the most rewarding day trips from Baltimore. It also happens to be a place where the drive itself is half the pleasure.

What Makes Ladew Different

Ladew is not a botanical garden in the research sense. It is a personal garden, designed by one man with a strong point of view and very little formal training, and it still feels that way. Harvey Ladew bought the farm in the late 1920s and spent the rest of his life redesigning it. He opened it to visitors before his death, and a nonprofit foundation now maintains it.

The Garden Rooms

The heart of the property is a series of separate "garden rooms," each with its own theme and color scheme, enclosed by clipped hedges so that you discover them one at a time. Expect a white garden, a rose garden, a garden built around water lilies and a pond, and themed spaces devoted to particular colors. Walking from room to room is the main activity, and it rewards a slow pace.

The Topiary

The topiary is what most people come to photograph: the hunt scene with horse, rider and hounds, sculpted birds, geometric shapes and a long, clipped hedge with "windows" cut through it. Because topiary changes with every trimming season, it looks a little different each visit.

The Manor House

The house is filled with Ladew's collections of English furniture and fox-hunting art, and it has a famous oval library. House tours are typically offered on a schedule separate from general garden admission, so check the official Ladew site for how tours work on the day you plan to visit.

The Nature Walk and Butterfly Habitat

Beyond the formal gardens, a nature walk loops through meadow, woodland and wetland, with a butterfly habitat that is at its best in summer. It is a quieter counterpoint to the manicured rooms and a good way to stretch your legs before lunch.

When to Go

Ladew is a seasonal destination. The gardens typically open in spring and close for the season in the fall, with the exact opening and closing dates set each year. Within that window, each part of the season has its own character:

• Spring brings bulbs, flowering trees and fresh green topiary.
• Early summer is peak rose and perennial season.
• High summer is the best time for the butterfly habitat and the water garden.
• Early fall brings softer light, fewer crowds and the first turning leaves in the surrounding countryside.

Weekday mornings are the calmest time to visit. Weekends, especially in late spring, draw more visitors and the occasional private event. Before you go, confirm the season dates, hours and any timed-entry requirements on Ladew's official website, since they can change from year to year.

The Drive Through Horse Country

Ladew sits on Jarrettsville Pike (Route 146) in Monkton, in the horse-farm country of the Harford and northern Baltimore County line. From Baltimore, the typical approach runs up I-83 toward Hunt Valley and then northeast on back roads, or out Route 146 from Towson through Jacksonville. Either way you will pass stone walls, horse paddocks and white board fences, and the final stretch is two-lane country road.

That last part matters for planning. The roads are narrow and winding, cell coverage can be patchy, and after an afternoon of walking it is pleasant not to be the one navigating home. It is one of the places where an hourly chauffeur makes the day simpler: you are dropped at the entrance, the car waits nearby, and you leave whenever you are ready.

Building the Day

A comfortable Ladew day from Baltimore looks something like this:

1. Mid-morning departure from the city, Towson or BWI, arriving shortly after the gardens open.
2. Two to three hours in the gardens and on the nature walk. Allow more if you plan to tour the house.
3. Lunch. Ladew has had an on-site café, but many visitors prefer to head back toward Hunt Valley, Timonium or Cockeysville for a sit-down lunch.
4. An optional afternoon stop such as a winery in the Baltimore County countryside, the shops at Hunt Valley Towne Centre, or a scenic loop past the Loch Raven Reservoir on the way home.
5. Home by late afternoon, ahead of the I-83 and Beltway rush.

If you are traveling from BWI, the trip runs north on I-695 or I-95 before picking up I-83 or Route 146, and it pairs naturally with a stay in the Hunt Valley area. Our Hunt Valley limo service page covers that part of Baltimore County, and our guide to Towson and Timonium events has more ideas for the same corridor.

Tips for a Good Visit

• Wear real walking shoes. The paths include grass, gravel and some uneven ground, and the nature walk adds distance.
• Bring sun protection and water in summer. Much of the garden is open to the sun.
• Check accessibility in advance. Some areas are easier to navigate than others; the official site describes current accessibility options.
• Respect the plants. The topiary is hand-clipped and fragile, so stay on paths and resist the urge to touch.
• Photography is a highlight, but check the official policy before bringing professional equipment or planning portrait sessions.
• Look at the event calendar. Ladew hosts seasonal events, lectures and plant sales, which can be a reason to go or a reason to choose another day.

Groups, Garden Clubs and Special Occasions

Ladew is a favorite outing for garden clubs, church groups, retirement communities and visiting family. For groups, keeping everyone together on country roads is easier in one vehicle than in a convoy. Our Mercedes Sprinter vans seat up to 13 passengers, and a GMC Yukon XL Denali or Lincoln Navigator works well for a smaller family group. For a couple or a single traveler, a sedan is plenty.

Because Ladew is about an hour from most of the region, it is usually booked as an hourly, as-directed trip rather than a one-way ride. Our Maryland hourly chauffeur service keeps the same vehicle and chauffeur with you all day, so lunch, an extra stop or a longer stroll does not require re-booking. If you are building a longer itinerary, our private chauffeur day around the Inner Harbor and Fells Point is a good companion idea for another day of your visit.

Planning Your Trip

Ladew rewards an unhurried visit. Check the season and hours on the official site, pick a weekday if you can, and give yourself time for lunch on the way back. When you are ready to plan the ride, call 877-609-1919 and tell us where you are starting, how many are in your party and how long you would like to stay.