pruning only once or twice a year. However, yew's dense, multibranched habit is more difficult to manipulate. The geometric shapes in the garden are boxwood, which is evergreen and doesn't take detail well. Paths and plants near the home and entrance are more formal then newer areas of the estates. Towards the entrance classic plantings are features. Areas developed in the 1970s feature more contemporary free-form topiaries. The grounds also include a small orchard, a cutting garden, a vegetable patch and gourd arbor, and a damask rose garden. Vegetables from the garden are maintained by a community farm program and the produce is used by the Rhode Island Food Bank. The greenhouse starts flower seedlings in January and February. Vegetables are started in March. Seedlings are moved to a series of cold frames in the next few months. Unlike most cold frames, the estate frames are not made of wood. The cold frames are made of concrete footings poured below the frost line. They were designed by Alice Brayton. Gardeners Joseph Carreiro, superintendent of Green Animals, 1905–1945 George Mendonça, superintendent of Green Animals 1950-1985 Ernest Wasson, Grounds Manager, 1985–1990 Crisse Genga, Grounds Manager, 1990 to 2002 Mary Ann Von Handorf, gardener 1988-2002, Grounds Manager, 2002–2003 Eugene Platt, topiarist 2002–2020 James Donahue, horticulturist, 2004–2014 Dan Christina, Chief horticulturist and Manager, 2014-present Documentary Fast, Cheap, and Out of Control is a 1998 documentary by Errol Morris. One segment of the film focuses on George Mendonça's work at Green Animals. Film synopsis External links Green Animals Topiary Garden, Preservation Society of Newport Green Animals Topiary Garden address and phone number Arboreta in Rhode Island Botanical gardens in Rhode Island Gardens in Rhode Island Historic house museums in Rhode Island Landmarks in Rhode Island Museums in Newport County, Rhode Island Toy museums in the United States Buildings and structures in Portsmouth, Rhode Island