LADEW TOPIARY GARDENS
Hosts: Ruth & Jim Synodinos
Sunday August 14, 2005
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It
was a hot and muggy summer afternoon at Pleasant Valley Farm, the spacious estate
and gardens of the late Harvey S. Ladew on the picturesque My Lady's Manor in
Harford County. The reception center, cafe, and house were cool; but those
who took the nature walk returned from the gardens flushed with the heat.
The trees in front of the manor house provided shade 
and there was a cool breeze. We had a fine turnout of 22 antique and
classic automobiles. All participants received a dash plaque and Margaret
and Francis Werneth were selected to receive the Sponsor's Choice Award for
their 1947 Ford 
.
Beef barbeque and a variety of salads and sandwiches were available in the air
conditioned cafe while many brought a picnic lunch to enjoy under the shade
trees. Thanks to our hosts Ruth and Jim Synodinos for a pleasant afternoon
on the Manor.
Left to right: Horn '65 Thunderbird, Synodinos '72 Pontiac, Penfield '31 Model A, Gugliuzza '55 Chevrolet, Scott '60 Buick, Benson '57 Thunderbird, Kenny '55 DeSoto, Currey '59 Pontiac, Reese '63 Chevrolet, Rhine '90 Reatta, Walsh '75 Chevrolet, Werneth '47 Ford, Arko '39 Chevrolet, Ehmann '69 Corvette, Scott '74 Porsche, Scott '64 Corvette.
Left to right: Penfield '31 Model A, Krupinsky '39 Ford, Horn '65 Thunderbird, Butcher '38 Lincoln, Jennings '65 Austin Healy
The following is taken from the Ladew Gardens website: <http://www.ladewgardens.com>
Harvey S. Ladew
Few more colorful figures embellish American cultural history than the late Harvey S. Ladew (1887-1976). As traveler, artist, foxhunter and creator of an extraordinary garden, Ladew filled the nearly 90 years of his life richly, creatively, and above all, amusingly.
Born amidst New York City's social world, Harvey Ladew spoke French before he spoke English and was treated to boyhood drawing lessons from curators at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In 1929, at the age of 43, foxhunting drew him to this property in rural Maryland. During the 1930s Ladew added wings to the house, renovated outbuildings before beginning work on the gardens. Then, with the help of local farmers, Ladew carved 22 acres of gardens out of fields previously used for crops and livestock and set to work transforming Pleasant Valley Farm into "the most outstanding topiary garden in America," as described by the Garden Club of America.
Late in life, Ladew determined to find a way of preserving his creation for all to enjoy. The result is Ladew Topiary Gardens, Inc., a non-profit organization whose mission is "to maintain and promote the gardens, house and facilities in keeping with the creative spirit of Harvey S. Ladew for the public benefit and for educational, scientific and cultural pursuits."
Ladew Topiary Gardens opened to the public in 1971. Since then, the Board of Trustees developed a variety of special events to assist in maintaining this uniquely beautiful historic house and gardens. Currently Ladew Gardens hosts approximately 30 annual events which include spring and fall programs, the My Lady's Manor Steeplechase Races, the Summer Concert Series and Children's Day.