The Green Animals Topiary Garden Is One Of The Strangest Places You Can Go In Rhode Island

Portsmouth is a charming little town in Newport County. Founded in 1638, it's home to numerous historic sites, charming shops, marinas, and restaurants. It's also where you'll find the Green Animals Topiary Garden, one of the most delightful – and admittedly, one of the strangest – places in Rhode Island.

The Green Animals Topiary Gardens are located at 380 Cory's Lane in Portsmouth.

Green Animals is the oldest and most northern topiary garden in the United States.

It all started in 1872, when it was purchased by Thomas E. Brayton, Treasurer of the Union Cotton Manufacturing Company in Fall River, Massachusetts.

Back then, the property consisted of seven acres of land, a white summer home, farm outbuildings, a pasture, and a vegetable garden.

Gardener Joseph Carreiro and his son-in-law, George Mendonca, were originally responsible for creating the topiaries.

Carreiro was superintendent of the property from 1905 to 1945, with Mendonca working there all the way until 1985.

These days, there are 80 pieces of topiary throughout the gardens.

You'll see animals, birds, geometric figures and ornamental designs.

In addition to checking out the animals, you can stroll through the vegetable and herb gardens and orchards.

Green Animals is a rare example of a self-sufficient estate.

This picturesque property was willed to the Preservation Society of Newport County by the Brayton family, who owned it for decades.

It's now professionally maintained, but it still has a unique charm.

The Green Animals Topiary Gardens are open seasonally, typically open from spring until November.

When current conditions allow, there is an annual children's party here, which is as fantastic as it sounds.

We're lucky to have a unique attraction like the Green Animals Topiary Gardens here in Rhode Island. Tickets are available here.