Historic 'Green Animals' Topiary Garden Reopens April 16

PORTSMOUTH, RI — Portsmouth's Green Animals Topiary Garden will reopen to the public for the season starting April 16. Once open, it will be the second historic property owned by the Preservation Society of Newport County to be open to the public, along with Marble House.

"We believe Green Animals will be a popular place to visit, as it was last summer and fall, because people are still looking for outdoor activities during the pandemic," said Trudy Coxe, the CEO and executive director of the Preservation Society. "And once again it will be part of our ‘Stroll the Gardens and Grounds’ ticket, which we introduced last year to allow people to enjoy the landscapes at all of our properties that are open."

Green Animals features more than 80 boxwood, privet and yew plants shaped like animals and other decorative forms.

Introduced last year, the "Stroll the Gardens and Grounds" ticket allows visitors to visit the outdoor portions of the preservation society's properties. Costing $18 for adults or $8 for children, tickets will go on sale starting April 14. Preservation Society members get in for free.

Green Animals is the country's oldest and most northern topiary garden, the preservation society said. It was created in the early 1900s by a farmer who emigrated from the Azores to the United States, and features seven acres of flower and vegetable gardens.

In 2019, it was recognized as one of the 28 official Daffodil Display Gardens in the country by the American Daffodil Society. The property boasts 16,00 bulbs representing 42 varieties.

Participants of the Newport Daffodil Days celebration can get $1 off admission with a 2021 daffodil pin through April 30.

Brayton House, the historic house on the property, will remain closed until further notice.