No reason to mince words, Fall 2026 has been exquisite in Newport! And recently I enjoyed the perfect pairing of the visuals with the tasty…lunch with friends at the Carriage House at the Elms and a stroll across this mansion’s celebrated landscape.

The timing could not have been more perfect! Fall colors were revealing themselves and the sky was a vivid blue, accentuating the classic proportions of both the grounds and architecture of Newport’s eighteenth century-inspired French chateau.

Attention to details, as in immaculate pruning of the hedges, add to the character and importance of this rich landscape heritage.

As I walked, I was reminded that The Elms is considered one of the finest Beaux Arts landscapes in America. But to me, quite simply, it is a stroll garden that soothes the soul. With a balustrade acting as a frame, the promenade is sited on a slight rise that imparts another element of grace to the overall scheme.

In keeping with the architectural style of the house, the elegant grounds of the Elms include a sunken garden secreted at the back of the ten acres…with their own pair of exceptional limestone pavilions with copper roofs that have turned that yummy shade of verdigris.

Remarkably intact due to the conservation efforts of the Preservation Society of Newport County, it is difficult to believe that this romantic horticultural and architectural treat is nearing 120 years old.

On a personal note: As they say, “timing is everything.” When I returned to the Elms a week after taking these pictures, our rain and ferocious winds had ripped every last leaf from this brilliant maple.

How ephemeral is that which Mother Nature creates…