Category Archives: topiary

July 30, 2023

Green Animals Topiary Garden 2023 (Portsmouth, RI)

Date Of Visit: July 24, 2023

Location: 380 Corys Ln, POrtsmouth, RI (30 mins south of Providence, RI and 1 hour southwest of Boston, MA)

Cost: $25 for adults, $10 for children 6-12, children under 6 get in free (you can also purchase combo tickets for tours of the mansions in Newport, RI, on their website). Customers are encouraged to purchase tickets for timed entry on their website. (special rates are available for groups of 10 or more, details are on their website)

Parking: There are about 50 free parking spots located across from the topiary (see below for additional info about parking)

All visitor parking for Green Animals is in the St. Philomena School parking lot. The only entrance to Green Animals is from the St. Philomena parking lot from June 17 – August 27. There will be no access to enter the property from the Green Animals parking lot.

Universally Accessible: No

Dog Friendly: No

Website: Green Animals Topiary Garden

Summary: Dozens of carefully clipped green sculpted shapes are scattered around the 7 acre topiary. There is also a special exhibit by Sean Kenney made out of Lego Bricks. Audio self guided tours are also available.

The numerous parks, sanctuaries and zoos in Rhode Island aren’t the only places in the Ocean State to see animals.

While they may not be as cuddly or cute, the animals at the Rhode Island Green Animals Topiary are just as impressive. The well kept topiary includes a variety of animals such as an elephant, giraffe and a human being.

But, there are so many more animals in this well kept exhibit.

But not all of the greenery is sculpted into animals. They were also trimmed into an airplane, heart and arch.

The 7 acre topiary also has pretty flowers and beautiful views.

As if this wasn’t fun enough, there is also a special exhibit by Sean Kenney. The Sean Kenney Nature Connects is a special exhibit of several art sculptures entirely made of Lego Bricks.

Each exhibit has a sign with information about each animal. The sculptures are listed below. Due to the dimensions and textures of the Lego bricks, the images look better in their full image size. You may want to look at the in full size or zoom in to see them better.

Peacock

Bird Bath (yes those pesky critters use even fake bird baths!)

Buck

Fawn and Doe

Hummingbird

Butterfly

Ant Hill. This cute display has holes for people to stick their heads into while they pose for photos.

Turtle

Rose

Dragonfly

Spider (I’m still having nightmares about this one!)

Wheelbarrow and gardener

Bumble Bee

Remember, these are made entirely out of Lego bricks! I had to keep reminding myself of this as I photographed each one. Also, if you do get lost or can’t keep track of where the Lego brick sculptures are there signs to help point you in the correct directions!

While the topiary is scheduled to remain open until October 1, the Nature Connects exhibit will only be at the topiary through September 10. Just make sure to not step on any of the Legos when you visit!

11 Comments | tags: flowers, nature connects, New Englaand, photograhy, Rhode Island, topiary | posted in New England, photographs, photography, photos, Rhode Island, topiary

July 1, 2016

Green Animals Topiary Garden (Portsmouth, RI)

By New England Nomad

Date Visited: June 25, 2016

Location: 380 Corys Ln, Portsmouth, RI (about 15 minutes north of Newport, RI and 1 hour south of Boston, MA) (401) 683-1267

Hours: Open everyday 10-5 seasonally (May 21 – Oct. 10 this year but the dates may change each year)

Cost: $15.99 for adults, $6.99 for youth (ages 6-17). There are discounts available if you provide an AARP card (I’m not quite that old yet) and if you have AAA and possibly if you’re in the military. Take note that the Green Gardens is considered part of the Newport Mansions and their prices are based on how many houses you visit. In this case, the price was based on a one house tour because there is only one mansion on the premises (the Brayton House)

Parking: Free parking for 24 vehicles

Dog Friendly: No (service dogs may be allowed)

Highlights: shrubs and bushes cut into shapes of animals and other shapes, pretty flowers and gardens, mansion (Brayton House)

If you think the grass is always greener on the other side, you’ve never been to the Green Animals Topiary Garden in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

Located adjacent to the Brayton house, the Green Animals display is the brainchild of gardener Joseph Carreiro. Carreiro began the topiary in 1905 and the 80 pieces of topiary have been in place at the garden ever since.

The topiary may be the main attraction. But the flowers and plants are also very pretty. In fact, as much as I loved the different shapes at the topiary, I found the flowers and the garden near the side of the topiary to be just as appealing.

The website states there are 80 different shapes sculpted into the greenery (although I don’t remember seeing that many). I have included the most interesting of these 80.

The Damask Rose Garden is featured at the entrance of the topiary.

The topiary has shapes of all kinds of animals. Like this giraffe.

with her/his baby giraffe (the black dot in this and some other photo is dirt on my sensor which I didn’t notice until after I got home unfortunately)

And this duck.

This is a growly bear (it is standing on its hind quarters)

Not all of the shapes are made in the image of creatures that are presently with us. This dinosaur was one of the scarier shapes in the garden.

This colorful shape is of a yew rooster

I don’t usually get this close to lions.

This swan peaked her head out among the other green animals.

This appears to be a bird

It was a little warm for a polar bear

Reindeers aren’t just in the North Pole.

There are even human shapes cut into the greenery. This human is riding a horse.

This police officer helped direct traffic around the green garden. I am not sure if he is affiliated with the Portsmouth department.

There’s even a mythical unicorn

This baby bear just wants a hug

There are even inanimate objects cut into the greenery. For instance, you can take a seat in this chair if you get tired (I am just kidding, you’re not allowed to climb and/or touch the greenery)

One of the few birds who actually sits still long enough for me to photograph him

I looked like this elephant was going to charge!

I don’t mean to boar you with this piece from the topiary.

The handout I received did not have a description for this shape. it appears to be a train.

This mommy and baby bear were sitting outside the Brayton mansion.

There is also a pet cemetery located at the topiary. Four pets of the owners are buried there. This section is very peaceful and decorative. The cemetery has a bench for sitting and reflecting and gravestones with the names of the deceased friends. It is very tranquil.

The flowers and garden are well kept and have some very vivid colors. I thought it was cute how they had “scarepeople” instead of scarecrows. I also liked the different chairs and wind vane and other decor around the grounds.

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There is also a fish pond with goldfish in it.

I also liked the Brayton House. They do not allow flash photography in the house (although you can take photos with your cellphone). I don’t like how photos look on my cellphone so I didn’t take any photos in the house but it is a must see on the tour.