Green Animals Topiary Garden

Aquidneck Island, where the garden sits, was the homeland of the Narragansett people, whose tribe continues in Rhode Island today, before English settlers established Portsmouth as one of the colony's earliest towns in 1638. The land later became farmland and country estates along the shore of the bay.

The estate was purchased in 1872 by Thomas Brayton, a Fall River businessman, as a summer country home. It was his gardener, Joseph Carreiro, and later Carreiro's son in law George Mendonca, who created and shaped the topiary over the first half of the twentieth century, patiently training privet, boxwood, and yew into animals and forms.

Brayton's daughter Alice inherited the estate and lived here for decades, delighting in the garden and naming it Green Animals for its living sculptures. She entertained guests among the topiary and made the garden the heart of the property.

On her death in the 1970s, Alice Brayton left the estate to the Preservation Society of Newport County, which has cared for it ever since, keeping the topiary clipped and the gardens flourishing so the public can enjoy this singular place.

The topiary collection includes more than eighty pieces, of which many are sculpted animals and birds. Among the favorites are a lumbering elephant, a camel, a giraffe, a bear, and various dogs and birds, alongside geometric forms, spirals, and arches clipped in crisp green.

Creating and keeping such shapes is painstaking work. The plants are grown over wire frames and trimmed again and again over many years to build up and maintain each form, so the garden represents decades of accumulated, skilled labor by its gardeners.

Around the topiary lie formal flower gardens, fruit trees, grape arbors, and a productive vegetable garden, all laid out in the manner of an old country estate. The mix of playful sculpture and traditional horticulture gives the garden its distinctive charm.

The white Victorian summer house at the center of the estate is open to visitors and displays a collection that includes a notable set of antique toys, offering a glimpse of the family who created and loved the garden.

The setting on a gentle slope above Narragansett Bay adds to the appeal, with glimpses of the water beyond the gardens and the easy, unhurried feel of a small country place rather than a grand mansion.

Because it is compact and welcoming, Green Animals is a favorite with families and gardeners alike, a place where children delight in spotting the animals and adults marvel at the craft that shapes them.

Spring wakes the garden as the shrubs leaf out and the flower beds and fruit trees bloom, though the topiary is still filling in after winter.

Summer is the fullest season, when the animals are lush and green, the flower gardens are at their peak, and the vegetable beds brim with produce.

Fall keeps the topiary in full leaf while the surrounding trees turn color, a beautiful and less crowded time to visit.

Winter reveals the bare frames and structure of the topiary and closes much of the season, though the garden's holiday events bring festive life to the estate.

The closest Boutel™ stays, so you can turn this stop into an overnight. Each is a place we chose through independent editorial review, never a paid placement.

The Green Animals Topiary Garden, in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, near Newport, is a charming and historic topiary garden, one of the oldest and finest in the country, famous for its whimsical shrubs sculpted into the shapes of animals. Set on a lovely seaside estate, the garden features dozens of topiaries clipped into elephants, giraffes, bears, birds, and other animals, along with geometric forms, flower gardens, and a historic house, all in a delightful setting overlooking Narragansett Bay. Its playful sculpted greenery enchants visitors of all ages. A whimsical and beautiful garden, it delights visitors. With its animal topiaries, Green Animals offers a charming destination in Rhode Island.

You can see dozens of delightful topiaries clipped into the shapes of animals like elephants, giraffes, bears, and birds, along with geometric topiary forms, colorful flower and vegetable gardens, and a historic house, all on a lovely estate overlooking the bay. The whimsical animal topiaries, the sculpted greenery, the flower gardens, and the seaside setting are the draws, making it a charming and photogenic visit. The animal shapes especially delight children. With its topiaries and gardens, Green Animals offers a rewarding experience in Portsmouth, Rhode Island.

The warmer months of late spring through early fall are the best time to visit, when the topiaries are lush and green, the flower gardens are in bloom, and the weather is pleasant for strolling the seaside grounds, with summer especially beautiful. Because the garden is seasonal, checking the current schedule before you go is wise. For the lushest topiaries and blooming gardens, aim for late spring through early fall at the Green Animals Topiary Garden in Rhode Island.

Yes, the garden is wonderful for families, with its whimsical animal-shaped topiaries that delight children, easy walking paths, colorful gardens, and a lovely open setting where kids can enjoy spotting the sculpted creatures. The playful topiaries make gardening fun for young visitors, and the grounds are pleasant for all ages. Its charm and open space make for an enjoyable outing. Its family appeal makes the Green Animals Topiary Garden a delightful destination in Rhode Island.

The Green Animals Topiary Garden is in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, near Newport, within reach of the Newport mansions, the Cliff Walk, Fort Adams State Park, and Narragansett Bay. That makes Green Animals a charming stop to combine with the mansions and the other attractions of the Newport area on a visit to Rhode Island.