Mission: To maintain, promote and nurture Ladew Topiary Gardens -- including it's 18th-century manor house and 15 formal gardens designed by the late Harvey S. Ladew, a gentleman, horseman, fox hunter, farmer, world traveler, linguist, writer, raconteur, artist, music lover, collector and horticulturist. Regarded as a 20th-century landscape architectural monument, the 22 acres of gardens have been called "the finest topiary garden in America" by the Garden Club of America. The manor house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Latest accomplishment: Completion of a $2 million capital campaign that provides funds for new handicapped accessible restrooms, gift-shop remodeling and restoration of the gardener's cottage.
On the horizon: Ladew starts its outdoor summer concert series at 6 p.m. today with a performance by the Dunloggin Pipes and Drums in the Great Bowl. Also, expansion of a gardening program that teaches city school children the principles of conservation and horticulture. A nature trail is scheduled to open in the fall of 1999.
About Ladew: Membership: 1,400 households. Attendance: 30,000 annually. Operating budget: $610,000. Endowment: $7.5 million.
Where & When: 3535 Jarrettsville Park, Monkton. Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday, 10: 30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Until 8 p.m. Thursdays through Labor Day. 410-557-9466.
Jean McCausland, president of the Board of Trustees: "We have a very famous garden and people from all over the world visit us, but not many people in Baltimore seem to know where we are. I would like to encourage those people to come out and enjoy the gardens -- it's a beautiful and fun place to visit."
Members of the Board.
Nancy Boyce
Nancy Brewster
J. Dorsey Brown III
Sibyl Brown
Alexander M. Byers
Katie Constable
Betty Constable
Pat Corey
Edwin A. Daniels Jr.
Anne Deford
Bibber Dow
Mary P. Edgar
Emily Emerick
M. Gillian Fenwick
Judy Grassi
Leith Griswold
Wendy Griswold
Bunny Hathaway
Frances Horich
Elise B. Lufkin
H. Turney McKnight
John L. McShane
Beverly Moore
Achsah O'Donovan
Alice Ober
Jenny Pitts
Eleanor Reade
Fran Riepe
John A. Robbins Jr.
Martha Robbins
Susan G. Russell
Freddie Shaw
Charlotte Silver
Constance White
Pub Date: 6/14/98