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
Tag Archives: gardening
Spicing up your Holidays with Pomanders
Blithewold Gardens and Arboretum is an exceptional historic mansion in Bristol, Rhode Island. Overlooking the Narragansett Bay, it is of the same period as Newport’s Gilded Age “cottages” but with… Read More
‘Tis the Season!
When anticipating this glorious holiday season, one image lingered as I carried out the bittersweet ritual of “putting the garden to bed”…the brilliant cardinals that had seemed more ever present… Read More
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
‘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
The Making of a Mini Vegetable Garden
What are two young darlings to do when dwelling in the eighth oldest home in Newport and desperate for a garden of their own? I am delighted to share with… Read More