Gardens
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Mt. Cuba Center- Hockessin, DE
The Brandywine Valley is one of the most beautiful places in the United States. It is home to countless gardens, some very well known, some hidden gems. Mount Cuba falls somewhere in the middle. It certainly isn't as busy as Longwood Gardens, which feels like an amusement park; nor is it a pocket park, with limited plantings. Rather, Mt. Cuba sits in the sweet spot- several acres of immaculate gardens and limited crowds.
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Ladew Topiary Gardens- Monkton, MD
Ladew Topiary Gardens are absolutely enchanting- a real life Alice in Wonderland experience. Consisting of a series of seemingly endless gardens, it feels almost dreamlike to wander the grounds here.
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Castle Hill and Crane Estate- Ipswich, MA
Although technically built after the end of the Gilded Age, Castle Hill is every bit as grand as its Newport counterparts. Majestically situated overlooking Ipswich Bay, and surrounded by stunning gardens, it is the quintessential summer vacation estate.
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Cleveland Botanical Garden- Cleveland, OH
Dating to 1930, the Cleveland Botanical Garden is one of the oldest in the United States. Although originally located in a converted boathouse on Wade Park Lagoon, it moved to the former site of the Cleveland Zoo in 1966. Apparently, the former bear pit still exists in the site, if you know where to look.
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Cleveland Cultural Gardens- Cleveland, OH
Cleveland is a city full of surprises. Known for its industrial past, I was shocked to find so many historic greenspaces scattered throughout the city. Among the most magnificent are the Cleveland Cultural Gardens, a group of 33 distinct spaces, commemorating the many ethnic groups found in the city.
