Holiday Dreaming: The Parterre Bench
When the Parterre Bench was recently chosen as an engagement gift I was thrilled for many reasons. Celebrating a glorious milestone reminded me of the reason I had originally designed… Read More
Design
A Fall Centerpiece: Intriguing Combinations with Garden Favorites
Even though Parterre’s gardens are formal in a design sense, I always find a few spots where I can include certain plant material that is not usually associated with French… Read More
All Around the House: Decorating with Pumpkins
Who doesn’t love driving past a farm stand packed with those jolly, fat fellows that always signal “it’s fall.” And I’ve noticed this year that more of the quirky, odd-colored… Read More
‘Limelight’ Hydrangeas: An Autumn Gift from the Garden
The beautiful pristine white quality of these ‘Limelight’ hydrangeas at this time in the fall is a phenomenon! Just the softest blush of pink is starting to appear when they… Read More
5 Scrumptious Containers that Prove You Can Still Garden into November
Receiving a text the other day from a creative savant and major plantsman, Kent Russell, (aka the Garden Guru), I hurried over to the Merrillton estate to see his newly planted… Read More
Newport, the Arboretum
In my first book, Private Newport: At Home and in the Garden (2004), I shared that I am first a tree lover, then a gardener, and hinted at a little… Read More
Water Lilies: Jewels of the Aquatic World
There is a time in late summer…just about now…that I anticipate all year long. It is so special that I mark it on my calendar — the water lily pond… Read More
The Whim: A Newport Seaside Garden
One of the joys of having guests is sharing places and experiences you love about Newport…like friends’ gardens. An all-time favorite of mine is The Whim, owned by Oatsie Charles… Read More
Hot Summer, Cool Garden
One need only enter an exquisite jewel box of a tiny, shaded garden on a hot day to appreciate the adage that “less is more.” Even before I opened the… Read More
Hydrangeas: Summer Favorites
Hydrangeas are usually such an iconic flower in Newport but for the last two years (due to weather and other “acts of Mother Nature”) there has barely been a bloom… Read More