Fall Lusciousness: A ‘Limelight’ Hydrangea Border

The ‘Crown Princess Margaretha’ rose chain is the star of the spring season at Parterre, ushering us into a welcome kickoff for the garden. Five months later, the ‘Limelight’ hydrangea…

The Gates of Newport

Inspiration seems truly “around every corner” when you live in a setting as beautiful and historic as Newport. Just the other night, I attended a lecture on Frederick Law Olmsted…

Vivacious Autumn Clematis

I remember many years back describing with great affection my take on Autumn clematis, or ‘clematis paniculata’…”vivacious…embracing…enveloping…a bit free with her favors…and goes by the honeyed name, Sweet Autumn Clematis.…

Newport Traditions: the Sleeping Porch

There is one house in Newport that has always held my fancy…and it is not just because we placed a bid on it before making the decision to build. Bellevue…

Memories of Summer ’22

Summer of 2022 has just finished and what a glorious season it was, blessedly free from the strictures of Covid. With the most-delicious weather I can remember in years –…

A Newport Tradition: Coaching Weekend

As though scripted by Julian Fellowes, Coaching Weekend returned to Newport August 18-21 after a four year hiatus, just as the first season of his “The Gilded Age” TV series…

Newport Viewscapes: Gooseneck Cove

Every summer in Newport provides a welcome opportunity to enjoy the many viewscapes of our very special island. Today I’m choosing a favorite as this blog post – Gooseneck Cove,…

Oops! in the Garden 2022

What a lollapalooza of a year for garden challenges…frequent and strong winds, torrential downpours (rather than soft showers), a constant brigade of bunnies, and a new blight on the horizon…

Summer Details in the Parterre Garden

Here at Parterre, ours is a green scheme that so suits a formal French stroll garden. The peace and cool that shades of green provide have proven, as always, a…

Floral Borders that Inspire

Aaaah, spring or summer (or perhaps winter, depending on where you are…), floral borders are a part of any landscape, or certainly garden! Perhaps you’re first thought is of the…