Postcards From England
Writing this as I sit in the perfectly named “morning room” at our comfy country house hotel, Fischer’s Baslow Hall, in Derbyshire. With its well-tended gardens to be enjoyed through… Read More
Author: Bettie Bearden Pardee
The Royce, a New Hotel Concept
Life‘s special moments are a reason to come together! For a town that celebrates for so many reasons, and in so many ways, a timely hospitality concept has just opened in… Read More
Parterre’s Spring Garden Statement
The first trees on the property to leaf out or bloom, this variety, Cherry ‘Hally Jolivette,’ produces the most exquisite small, single blossoms in a soft shell pink, clustered together… Read More
Anticipating Summer 2025
Hurray! It’s the Merry Month of May! Spring is popping (after a too cold, too windy winter). And I’m off mid month to England. But when I return this is… Read More
A Daffodil Story
“And then there was the year we put the Parterre Bench along the daffodil-studded brook…” As we like to say, there’s always a Story in Newport, or in this case,… Read More
Easter is Hopping our Way
With all the bunnies hopping, flowers blooming and spring fever popping, everyone is in a most celebratory mood; especially since Easter gives us an excuse to put on our party… Read More
Leonardslee Rock Garden, Sussex, England
When it comes to “take it or leave it,” I can usually “leave” as regards rock gardens…until an English garden trip in 2023 left me speechless. Little did I know… Read More
Countdown to Spring
By the calendar, it’s officially Spring at Parterre…the rabbits are nibbling, the raindrops are dropping, the deer are encroaching…but it won’t be true Spring in Newport for awhile (on a… Read More
Calling Seafair “Home”
As one who has written two coffee table books on the subject of Newport’s homes, I often find myself reflecting back on the many private residences that I’ve visited and… Read More
Personal Postcards from Lake Maggiore
My trip to the Lake District of Northern Italy last April/May had its share of WOW! moments (which have been the subject of many blogs), but this post is about… Read More