Green Animals Topiary Garden
Despite its modest size to put it lightly, Rhode Island has an incredibly rich history and is home to some of the most interesting and unique sites in the whole country. All it takes is a quick Google search to the effect of “What are some fun things to see in Rhode Island” and a majority of the results you see will be historical sites in some way. In this very first edition of “Big Sites in the Smallest State” — a title I’m somewhat happy with but may be subject to change — I decided to choose a site that I believe nearly anyone could enjoy: the Green Animals Topiary Garden.
The History
First of all, what the heck is a topiary garden some of you may be thinking to yourselves? Even if you don’t know what it is by name, you’ve surely seen pictures of one. In short, according to Merriam-Webster, topiary is defined as “the practice or art of training, cutting, and trimming trees or shrubs into odd or ornamental shapes.” And a garden is…well…a garden. Put those two together and you have yourself a topiary garden!
The oldest topiary garden in the world dates back to one founded in the late 1600s in England. However, the oldest one in the United States is found in none other than Portsmouth, Rhode Island. The land that is now home to the Green Animals Topiary Garden was first purchased in 1872, and the earliest topiaries were built in the following decades. As its name suggests, what makes this site so unique is that it consists of large topiaries of varying animals, including an elephant, bears, a camel, and more. Today the site is owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County, which has been able to keep the site preserved in pristine condition.
Fun Facts
Along with being the oldest topiary garden in the US, the Green Animals Topiary Garden is also the northernmost, too. Boxwood, privet, and other plants used to create amazing topiaries typically thrive in warmer, sunnier climates. So, the site is not open year-round as Rhode Island winters can be unpredictable and unforgiving at times.
One really cool aspect to this historical site is that you can customize your experience to how you’d like your visit to be. The garden offers private or group tours for large parties as well as self-guided audio tours. During the self-guided audio tours, you receive a headset that narrates the different topiaries and pieces of art as you walk around, providing a bit of history and other additional information so that you don’t have to read individual information placards. Of course, you can just choose neither of these, but it is always nice having options.
One of the most difficult animals to maintain is the giraffe. With its long, slender neck, trimming its proportions is no easy task. In 1954, the giraffe lost its head and neck resulting from a hurricane and it took years to grow back.
Simon Says
As I said earlier, whether you are 5 or 95 years old I believe that truly anyone could enjoy the Green Animals Topiary Garden. It offers a unique experience you can’t find in many other places. When I visited the site, I was drawn especially to the giraffe and elephant topiaries. Along with being two of my favorite animals, they were impressively large and it made me think to myself the level of effort and expertise needed to maintain these beautiful pieces of art. I also really enjoyed the garden’s topiary unicorn; it made the experience just that much more magical.
Overall, if you are someone that enjoys spending time outdoors, this site is an absolute must. Looking at pictures online is a nice preview of what the garden has to offer, but I believe it is so much cooler to visit in person. I would also recommend utilizing the self-guided audio tour; if it turns out to not really enhance your experience you can just turn it off anytime. I rate the Green Animals Topiary Garden a 9.5/10 overall and it is a site I would absolutely visit again.