I’ll start this post not with my own words, but with kind observations from a visitor to Parterre over this past weekend during the garden tour….”The lovely French inspired design of the gardens, combined with a thoughtful placement of garden decor, pops of color with roses, hydrangeas, cosmos and dahlias and the various shades of green provided by hedges, ferns, and trees, truly delights the eye!” So without further ado, I’ll let you judge for yourself, with a bit of narrative where it might add a welcome note.

The first garden, and the most formal, is centered with a fountain What makes it so valuable to us is that the plantings are predominantly evergreens (cotoneaster, euonymus, yew, box) providing a welcome view looking south in the winter/spring.

The Green and White Garden…centered by an “Orangerie” (actually a greenhouse, which serves well as both a work horse in the spring/summer as well as entertaining space in cooperating months).

A yummy new shade of Mandevilla!

Peeking through the leaded glass windows of the Orangerie.

A detail I adore…silver dichondra brightening up the cobblestone paths throughout the herbaceous beds.

Perfect timing! Tall, slender stalks of Cimicifuga coming into full bloom the first day of the tour.

An unusual hornet, with white/black rings, I have only seen on this specific plant, Angelica.

Delicate Angel Vine with the succulent, ‘Livingstone Daisy’, in the Orangerie’s niches.

In the newly completed Woodland Garden the fun signature of paisley motifs is to be searched out…the most prominent? Tassel fern on the left and ‘Stained Glass’ hosta on the right…with small scatterings of rawhide-brown mushrooms responding to the rain’s call.

And another paisley set, of European ginger and Brunnera, nestling amongst a collection of ferns.

It was a pleasure to open Parterre’s gardens for the “Bellevue and Beyond” tour supporting such a worthy organization as FabNewport and their youth-focused goals. As introduction: Across the country, a bold new vision for education is taking root—one that places youth at the center of thriving, interconnected learning ecosystems. Inspired by a decade of pioneering work by Education Reimagined, we are bringing this vision to life in Newport County. By coordinating schools, employers, nonprofits, and government partners, we are growing an equitable, youth-centered Ecosystem of Learning (EOL): a place-based, hub-supported model designed to prepare young people for meaningful careers, vibrant civic life, environmental stewardship, and lifelong personal growth. Rooted in Education Reimagined’s nationally recognized framework, our EOL bridges fragmented efforts, expands opportunity, and grows a model that is inclusive, adaptive, and community-owned—ensuring every young person has the relationships, resources, and real-world experiences they need to thrive.