In the Garden, Winter


A Brief Encounter with Snow

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I shouldn’t say “surprise surprise,” for it is, after all, February… but with all the unseasonably warm temps I had begun to believe we might miss a snow this year. Nope! Happy am I because snow is a garden’s friend (it protects plants/shrubs from the wind and provides them a good watering from the melting powder). Bring it on, I say!

There’s also that other bit of serendipity that prompts me to grab my phone and boots and head out… with each snow I see an image I’ve never noticed before. It may be from a different angle-or highlight a detail I’d missed-or be an entirely new entry in the “Newport Snow” albums. It is so beautiful that I can never resist posting some images, especially when the snowflakes are 1.5″ in size and the snow is this lovely thin blanket instead of the piles and piles that diminish shapes, etc.

At home (as in the above feature image) or in the garden

or at the front entrance, with its Gilded Age-style street lamp.

I headed out to catch some shots of snow-bound Bellevue Avenue and its side streets, always marvelling at the generations of varying architectural styles and materials along this historic Avenue! From masterful wrought iron gates

to a cozy white painted wooden example (at The Flower Cottage).

From rustic stone walls, to formal red brick.

Finishing with a block-long wrought iron fence interrupted every eight feet with elaborately worked pillars and finials.

Returning home via the exit driveway, I captured the seldom-seen side of our house (which requires almost standing atop the car to take this image). From this angle you see the varying roof lines that almost give the feeling of a small French village…which I adore.

And I came to realize that on my brief foray, the garden gate that looked like this when I left

now looked like this, the snow blanketing each curve of the antique iron gate. My timing was very fortunate as this luscious, billowy powder was about to start dropping off.

Checking my Old Farmer’s Almanac, it appears that we shall have no more snow for 2024…how blessed to have had at least one snow, and to be able to capture it on my “camera.”!

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About Bettie Bearden Pardee

Author of Private Newport and Living Newport, garden furniture designer (The Parterre Bench), national lecturer, and entertaining expert. An honoree for the second year on "The Salonniere 100 America's Best Party Hosts", she was also the host and creative producer of "The Presidential Palate: Entertaining at the White House".

25 thoughts on “A Brief Encounter with Snow

    1. If you can work it out, come in February…otherwise stay tuned to my weekly blogs. xB

    1. Thank you for picking up on that last caption in the blog; I seldom show this side of Parterre. xB

  1. I believe my hometown is one of the most beautiful in the country, especially after newly dusted in snow. Thanks for proving me right, Bettie! Absolutely beautiful!

    1. It’s so precious and doesn’t stay long but what a treat to catch it at just the right time. xB

  2. The magnificent tree towering the roofline is stunning! Your area is beautiful with the perfect flocking of snow! Thank you for always sharing the beauty around you Bettie!

    1. Sharing with friends feeds the soul, thank for being part of my Private newport family. xB

  3. Dear Bettie, Thank you for sharing your photos of snowy scenes helping to recall memories that can melt with the flakes. In His grip, Bonny

  4. LOVELY LADY,
    ONCE AGAIN (VIA ‘MY FAIR LADY’) … ‘YOU’VE DONE IT!’ (BUT OF COURSE U DID).
    THOUGH WE HAVE ALL EXPERIENCED COUNTLESS ‘WINTER’ SNOW FALLS; ONLY YOU, WITH YOUR ‘MAGIC’ – HAVE OPENED OUR EYES TO A FLEETING FANTASY.
    YOUR SOUL IS SO GIFTED, AND WE ARE THE FORTUNATE RECIPIENTS.
    MERCI !

    AS ALWAYS,
    TOM

      1. *** BEING AROUND FAB. LADIES (SINCE 1966 – @19) …
        MRS. RBT. YOUNG, MRS. M.M. POST, MRS. B.F. GIMBEL,
        AND MRS. G. MACCULLOCH (FLORA WHITNEY)

        … IT WAS JUST A NATURAL OUTCOME.

        FONDLY,
        TOM

  5. A beautiful post Bettie! Greensboro hasn’t had snow in several years. I’m jealous! Hope you are doing well! It certainly appears that you are! Ann Davenport

    1. So happy to hear from you…doing well here and waiting for spring. Cheers from newport! xB

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