The Newport Flower Show 2026

The theme for this year’s Flower Show was “Pearls of Newport.” And can there be a more appropriate pearl than Rosecliff, this architecturally splendid Gilded Age mansion, where many a…

Containers, A Valuable Garden Detail

In honor of my dear friend, Margot Shaw, founder of Flower magazine and one of the headliners for the 2026 Newport Flower Show, I’m taking a page from her new…

Flowering Outdoors: Gardens and Parties

The Newport Flower Show will have a Star headliner this month, Margot Shaw, founder of Flower magazine, introducing her new book, Flowering Outdoors: Gardens and Parties. Don’t you love the…

Peony Magic

I’m so excited that the weather has finally turned and my glorious faves, peonies, are starting to show off! Appreciating how much we are all besotted with peonies, I chose…

A Notable Newport Estate, The Orchard Part 2

In a town of many old mansions, most have become house museums or condominiums or have been turned into dormitories and classrooms for a local university. Only a special few,…

A Notable Newport Estate, The Orchard. Part 1

Memorial Day reminds us that summer is just around the corner, when friends return from all parts of the country and houses are “opened for the season.” One of those…

Hansel and Gretel in Richmond

Historic Garden Week in Richmond provided such warm memories of both horticultural and architectural inspiration. One setting lingers in my mind, which I cannot resist calling the “Hansel and Gretel…

Gardens and Houses of Richmond, VA Part 2

My affection and appreciation for Richmond’s architecture began during college, and has lingered since then. Fortunately, I’ve had many occasions to travel down to this exceptional Virginia city. Driving through…

Gardens and Houses of Richmond,VA

Often called America’s largest open house​, “Historic Garden Week”​ in Virginia is a much-anticipated annual event for many garden lovers!​For one elegant week​, both homes and ​their gardens throughout the…

A Peek at Oak Springs

If you are as committed a garden aficionado as I am, Oak Spring garden is a mecca on your short list of stops. A few years ago, I had the…