Kid Baltimore | Family Activities with Children in Baltimore, Maryland

Ladew Topiary Gardens

I never quite understood topiary. The urge to shape shrubbery into animals just seems like a force fit to me. Just let those poor plants be! But I have to admit, the Hunt Scene is genius. And the shrubs look awfully happy to be portraying hounds. So maybe I should let it go.

Harvey Ladew started creating these gardens in 1929. He was self-taught and was one of the first American gardeners to incorporate "garden rooms". The result is 22 acres of themed gardens that go way beyond topiary. Before his death in 1976, he arranged for his home and the gardens to be preserved for the public.  I loved watching my kids take turns deciding which places to explore: from the Tivoli Tea House to the Garden of Eden. But without a doubt their favorite was the koi pond at the far side of the Iris Garden.

For little ones, this trip requires a lot of walking. Everything is spread out, but manageable, even with a stroller. Picnics are permitted everywhere except the Great Bowl and the Hunt Scene, so bring a blanket and soak up that last little bit of summer.

410-557-9466

Ladew Topiary Gardens
3535 Jarrettsville Pike
Monkton, MD 21111

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Mingodale Farm

Sometimes I get side-tracked. It's not always a bad thing, as long as you do it the right way.

My garden had a nice tomato crop this year – too many to eat all at once, but not enough to can. I love having canned tomatoes through the winter to make big pots of chili. My family always takes pity on me and shares their surplus, but I run out by December anyway, so this year I thought I would can some of my own. I stuffed the kids in the car and went out in search of more tomatoes. Real tomatoes that haven't traveled halfway across the world to get here. Mingodale Farm sounded promising.

Here's where the side-tracked part comes in. See, they do have tomatoes, but more importantly (at least at the moment) they have pick-your-own blackberries and cut-your-own flowers. We were introduced to the dog, Blue, handed containers and directed to the berry patch. The kids have to hunt a bit for the berries, but managed to fill 3 containers. I would recommend showing up right as they open in the morning to get the best picking. We arrived a bit later and still did very well.

Then we headed back for pick-your-own flowers. Zinnias and sunflowers. The key here is getting your kids to not pick every single flower on the farm. We picked a couple of nice big bouquets of zinnias, and a mammoth sunflower head just for fun.

And oh yeah... why did I come here in the first place? Tomatoes. I picked up two nice big baskets of those too.

410-357-0403

Mingodale Farm
17201 Masemore Road
Parkton, MD 21120

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Sergio Makes A Splash!

On a recent trip to New York, my husband and I were lucky enough to spend some time with fellow illustrator/designer Edel Rodriguez. His new book Sergio Makes a Splash just hit bookstore shelves this spring. First, let me say that I am totally in love with the idea of a penguin wearing water wings and snorkel gear, but I also absolutely love Edel's bold color palette and woodblock textures.

Let’s Dish

How often is it that you can combine kid entertainment with household chores? Practically never. And if you can, efficiency is a concept that never enters the equation.

I signed up for an in-store session with my daughter at Let's Dish - a restaurant quality food preparation store. We put on our fancy schmancy aprons and bandanas and then were given a quick "how to dish" lesson. Each food preparation station has a meal ready for us to assemble. The directions are super clear, and the ingredients are beautiful and fresh.

My daughter and I stumbled a bit through our first recipe, but by meal two, we were pros. We spent about two hours assembling eight meals: two meals each of Portabello Mushrooms Stuffed with Wild Rice, Chicken Casablanca, Shrimp Scampi with Linguine, and Fajita Steak with Chile-Lime Dressing. When we needed a break, there were fresh scones and drinks.

Of course, the proof is in the pudding, so to speak. We decided to taste test the portabello mushrooms first. And because they looked so good we invited our extended family. The mushrooms disappeared before I knew what happened so I would say they were a big hit. I can't wait to try the other meals. Budget-wise, it's less expensive than carry out (ours worked out to $24 for each 6-serving meal).

(Note: For health and safety reasons, this activity is best for kids age 8 and up. The height of the food prep stations may also be hard to manage for some kids, but you are allowed to bring a step stool.)

Let's Dish
Timonium Commerce Park
9620 Deereco Road
Timonium, MD 21093

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