Christmas Meadow: Bringing Ladew’s Gardens Indoors

Decorating the historic Manor House at Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, Maryland has been a cherished tradition for more than forty years, with local designers and Garden Clubs transforming its rooms into festive holiday splendor. This December, I was honored to be invited to decorate one of the rooms and selected the elegant Dining Room—a generous space adjacent to the Butler’s Pantry, complete with a grand fireplace, a long dining table, and a wide garden-facing window.

Ladew Topiary Gardens in Monkton, MD

Working over a long weekend with my daughter, Laura, and my friend Gretchen, and ably assisted by box hauling husbands, we created a fresh, unexpected holiday scheme. Inspired by the distinctive grass-green–bordered dinnerware china displayed in the lighted cabinet, we stepped away from the traditional red-and-green Christmas palette. Instead, we chose floral, springlike tones—lavenders, pinks, and soft purples—using many pieces from our own collections and borrowing others. Fresh and dried flowers, in generous quantities, brought the room fully to life.

Ladew’s abundant centerpiece outdoor meadow sparked the idea of transforming the dining room into a “living meadow,” filled with dried and fresh botanicals alive with color, fragrance, and texture. On the long dining table, I created a  matching dried-flower meadow centerpiece in shades of pink, green, and lavender, touched with a hint of sparkle. Gardeners everywhere are introducing elements of wildness to create habitats and I wanted to reflect that growing trend with a Christmas meadow.

Above the sideboard, a wreath and small Christmas tree were decorated with masses of dried flowers I had grown and preserved throughout the summer. To echo the beloved Winterthur dried-flower tree—crafted annually with blooms from their own gardens—I designed a four-foot elevated Christmas tree using my own dried materials to create a similar effect.

Scattered throughout the room, large clear glass vessels overflowed with peony petals grown and dried by a friend, arranged beautifully by designer Gretchen, in a spectrum of rose pink tones. Their lingering aroma drifted softly through the room, adding an unexpected sensory delight.

A spectacular fresh-flower meadow was recreated on the fireplace mantel, immediately catching the eye as guests enter. Bells of Ireland, larkspur, liatris, ranunculus, mums, alstromeria, peonies, lisianthus, and lilies formed a lush, fragrant tapestry, flanked on either side by small glass vases echoing the meadow theme.

The fireplace hearth introduced a touch of traditional Christmas charm with red amaryllis and white blooming hellebores nestled among frosted evergreen boughs, all backed by striking white-bark birch logs.

Because Ladew is synonymous with foxhunting traditions and whimsical topiary, my daughter designed a floral topiary fox to sit in front of the garden-facing window. Crafted from fresh and dried botanicals and nestled into a miniature meadow—complete with a fox-hunting horn and many of the same flowers used in the mantel arrangement—the fox became a playful, garden-inspired focal point that delighted visitors.

Lighting the manor house is essential. With limited existing illumination, thoughtful supplemental lighting becomes crucial. Spotlights can highlight architectural details and floral displays, while string lights add warmth and sparkle. LED candles provide safe, atmospheric glow throughout the rooms. Together, these layers of light create the inviting ambiance that brings the holiday décor to life.

Christmas in the Manor House will be open Wednesday, December 10 through Saturday, December 13, from 3–7 PM. A special Member Preview Party will be held on Tuesday, December 9, from 5–8 PM.

During your visit, be sure to explore the Ladew Gift Shop, which offers a distinctive selection of gifts—perfect for finding treasures for everyone on your list. The Ladew Café will feature a special holiday menu, and a festive Christmas Market will offer seasonal specialties, live carolers, and a Holiday Greens Sale filled with beautiful tabletop arrangements, wreaths, potted herb standards, and other unique decorations.

Tickets are not timed and range from $15 to $25, allowing you to enter anytime between 5–8 PM. I found that arriving closer to 6:30 makes for a much quieter, less crowded experience.