A Tale of Two Orangeries
Part of the pleasure of building your own home in Newport is the ritual of naming it (very de riguer — taken so literally that one witty friend tagged their… Read More
Author: Bettie Bearden Pardee
“Rock Star” Architects in Newport: McKim, Mead & White
The architectural firm of McKim, Mead & White have been credited with defining the signature look of Gilded Age America. During the heady period of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries,… Read More
Cuckoo for Flower Containers
Charlotte Moss in her comprehensive book Garden Inspirations committed ten-plus pages to the topic of flower containers. Committed is the right word; we flower lovers should all be committed to an asylum for the… Read More
A Don’t-Miss Wedding at Samode Palace in Jaipur
When a good friend, who has an adventure and travel streak in her, announces that she’s going to Jaipur, India for a wedding there’s only one thing to say…take pictures!… Read More
Traveling in Style: the New and Improved Land Yacht
Those of you who know me are probably raising an eyebrow at the mere mention of trailer (or Land Yacht). But I must say that since I visited Patrick Dempsey’s… Read More
Wedding Mishaps: Handling Them with Poise and Grace
It’s the big day — you’ve been looking forward to this event for a very long time. Everything has been painstakingly organized and planned and no detail has been overlooked; however,… Read More
Tulipmania: The Good Dirt on Tulips
Who doesn’t love tulips? And who cannot be intrigued with these exquisite flowers that originated in Turkey and made their way to the Netherlands in the 1600s, prompting a… Read More
Bistronomy: The Best New Paris Bistros
“Bistronomy” is the latest trend in Parisian cuisine. I was so pleased to experience it firsthand at a recent talk and tasting celebrating Jane Sigal’s latest book, Bistronomy: Recipes from… Read More
Thomas Jefferson’s Dovecote on the Rose Hill Estate
As a garden lover as well as an admirer of Thomas Jefferson, I was intrigued when a friend emailed asking if I knew what a dovecote was (not realizing that… Read More
7 Steps to Hosting a Successful Cheese-Tasting Party
Who doesn’t love cheeses? If it weren’t for their high caloric count, I could live quite nicely on them for a daily diet of protein. However, a recent front page article… Read More