Gardens of Maryland

Harvey S. Ladew (1887-1976), who established the topiary gardens here, was, according to the British magazine Tatler, "a gardner, sporting art patron and good companion." It seems only fitting, then, that a life-sized foxhunt scene – one of two-dozen garden rooms on his 250-acre former property – is arguably one of the most recognizable topiary forms in the region. For more insights on this and other masterpieces, Ladew's 'In the Garden' series and spring lectures offer a variety of gardening-related talks. 

An azalea garden, rose garden, children's garden, formal garden, fragrance garden, and Japanese-style garden, all surrounded by a "Heart-Smart Trail," are part of this 50-acre collection of public gardens. The property – part of Wheaton Regional Park in Montgomery County – also has two conservatories and a horticultural reference library in its visitor center.

The Rawlings Conservatory and Botanic Gardens has distinct environments that allow the display of plants from all over the world.

Six fabulous acres of natural beauty. A great time to visit is late April when thousands of tulips are in bloom.

Three historic buildings with interactive exhibits about farm life, industry, timbering, water trades, hunting and trapping, and Native Americans and families of the area. Group tours arranged.

Overlooking the South River, London Town was a 17th-century tobacco port, and today, only about a quarter of the town's original 100 acres remain. Within the historic area are the Colonial Kitchen Garden, African-American Foodways Garden and Richard Hill Medicinal Garden, which include herbs, heirloom flowers and vegetables, fruit trees and various crops. London Town also features the Woodland, Ornamental and Environmental gardens. 

Donated to the Maryland-National Park Capital Park and Planning Commission in 1978 by William and Virginia McCrillis and managed by Brookside Gardens, McCrillis is known for its stellar shade gardens. The site has a pavilion and benches, and is home to the Brookside Garden School of Botanical Art and Illustration.

Tour the colonial mansion of Declaration of Independence signer William Paca, and walk through his luxurious two-acre colonial garden.

Art intersects nature at this Southern Maryland destination. The sculpture garden has a quarter-mile pathway winding through a collection of museum-quality sculpture – some of it on loan from the Smithsonian's Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Annmarie also has more than 500 hybrid azaleas. While you're here, be sure to inquire about the classes and exhibitions offered by the arts center.

The garden at this tidewater manor (circa 1710) located on the banks of the Patuxent River was designed in 1910 in the form of an 18th-century garden. It includes vegetable and herb gardens, fruit and nut trees, and an array of flowering plants – all typical of a colonial garden.

 In 1954, the city established Cylburn Wildflower Preserve and Garden Center on the site of a successful 19th-century businessman's summer home. The 207-acre property, with its post-Civil War mansion and expanding collection of trees, was renamed in 1982. Volunteers have designed three miles of trails and various gardens to create a center for environmental education and horticulture. The annual Market Day, featuring plants and flowers for sale, seminars, arts and crafts, and a range of family activities, occurs on the second Saturday in May.

This 400-acre garden on the Eastern Shore has the Delmarva region's largest collection of native plants: 600 species of shrubs, trees, wildflowers and grasses. Visitors can walk along five miles of pathways through woods, meadows, streams, wetlands and gardens. 

Stroll the landscaped grounds for design ideas, relax with gourmet coffees, visit with the llamas, or explore the garden center for the perfect item to complement your home.

Set in 232 acres of former farmland, the Conservancy maintains niche gardens around its historic buildings and has more than an acre of accessible native plant gardens. The site includes a nature center, gift cart, and environmental programming, as well as an historic farmhouse and outbuildings.

Waterlilies by the acre in production ponds and demonstration ponds attract visitors from around the globe.  Blooming season is mid-May to mid-September.

Family-owned lavender farms growing a variety of lavenders are located throughout Maryland. Lavender is perfect for distilling into essential oil, which may used in handmade, bath and body products.