Private Newport - with Bettie Bearden Pardee

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Tag Archives: Italy


The Intriguing Garden at Villa di Balbianello

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For many reasons, Villa di Balbianello and its terraced gardens are arguably one of the most impressive sites on Lake Como (if not the). The breathtaking location on its own… Read More

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Florence, Il Mio Amore

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“Florence, I love you.” How many of us have said that? But it has been years for me since I have been in this magical jewel of a small city.… Read More

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A Venetian Masquerade Fête for Halloween

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Last year about this time, I found myself looking for an excuse for a party. Curiously, Halloween popped up. But if Halloween, then it had to be more than trick… Read More

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Personal & Precious: The Art of the Thank You Note

5 / 19 / 167 / 17 / 20

In my most recent post we chatted about being a gracious host and a perfect house guest. A natural follow-on? Thoughts on handwritten thank you notes, both for the house… Read More

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A Tale of Two Orangeries

5 / 13 / 168 / 14 / 20

Part of the pleasure of building your own home in Newport is the ritual of naming it (very de riguer — taken so literally that one witty friend tagged their… Read More

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Iconic Views of Northern and Southern Italy

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Isn’t falling in love with Italy something each of us should experience? When my talented assistant, Michelle, returned from her first trip to this magical country, there were stars in… Read More

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9 Autumn Plants to Inspire a Seasonal Flower Arrangement

11 / 3 / 157 / 15 / 20

Next week, mark your calendars for November 13th-15th (with the Preview Party the evening  of November 12th) for the famed Theta Charity Antiques Show in Houston, Texas. Going strong now for… Read More

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Tailgate Picnicking at Newport Polo

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Like so many things in Newport, equestrian pursuits have a colorful history here. The lush acreage where the Newport International Polo Series is now played was the former Glen Farm of… Read More

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Charlotte Moss

6 / 16 / 157 / 15 / 20

“My London Trilogy” post chronicled a once-in-a-lifetime trip on which I was privileged to be invited, “Gardens and Glorious England: A Celebration of Nancy Lancaster’s Legacy” with Charlotte Moss, a… Read More

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About Bettie

Author of Private Newport and Living Newport, designer of the Parterre Bench, national lecturer, and entertaining expert.
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privatenewport

Behind the doors of Newport’s most celebrated summer event… 🌸

The 2026 Newport Flower Show transformed Rosecliff’s @newport.mansions historic interiors into living works of art, where flowers, design, and Newport elegance met in the most extraordinary way✨

These are just a few of the details from inside this year’s “Pearls of Newport” exhibition🌊

Part 2 is coming tomorrow. Trust us, you’ll want to see what’s waiting outside👀🥀

✨ Save this for your Newport summer bucket list
🌿 Follow @privatenewport for more of the Newport most visitors never get to see
#privatenewport #newportmansions #gildedage #newportflowershow #rosecliffmansion

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Jun 22

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Open post by privatenewport with ID 18447092419189526
Behind the doors of Newport’s most celebrated summer event… 🌸

The 2026 Newport Flower Show transformed Rosecliff’s @newport.mansions historic interiors into living works of art, where flowers, design, and Newport elegance met in the most extraordinary way✨

These are just a few of the details from inside this year’s “Pearls of Newport” exhibition🌊

Part 2 is coming tomorrow. Trust us, you’ll want to see what’s waiting outside👀🥀

✨ Save this for your Newport summer bucket list
🌿 Follow @privatenewport for more of the Newport most visitors never get to see
#privatenewport #newportmansions #gildedage #newportflowershow #rosecliffmansion

privatenewport

Just a teaser🌸

This weekend, Rosecliff with @newport.mansions was transformed for one of Newport’s most anticipated weekends of the year💫

We’ll be sharing the full Flower Show recap tomorrow..

Follow along if you love historic homes, gardens, and the side of Newport most people never get to experience💛
#newportflowershow #newportmansions #privatenewport #gildedage #architecture

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Jun 21

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Open post by privatenewport with ID 18088550087456192
Just a teaser🌸

This weekend, Rosecliff with @newport.mansions was transformed for one of Newport’s most anticipated weekends of the year💫

We’ll be sharing the full Flower Show recap tomorrow..

Follow along if you love historic homes, gardens, and the side of Newport most people never get to experience💛
#newportflowershow #newportmansions #privatenewport #gildedage #architecture

privatenewport

“Flowering the outdoors” is about so much more than flowers….

Inspired by her dear friend @margotrshaw new book Flowering Outdoors, Bettie reminds us that the most beautiful gardens are built on scale, proportion, color, and thoughtful details💫

At Parterre, an urn becomes a focal point. A climbing rose softens a wall. A row of chartreuse planters transforms an entire garden room🌱

The magic is rarely in one grand gesture, it lives in the layers🌹

Save this for your next garden inspiration board🌿

Follow @privatenewport for more of the beautiful details most people overlook💐
#newportflowershow #parterregarden #privatenewport #privateliving #newportestates

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Jun 18

156 9
Open post by privatenewport with ID 18402397375156159
“Flowering the outdoors” is about so much more than flowers….

Inspired by her dear friend @margotrshaw new book Flowering Outdoors, Bettie reminds us that the most beautiful gardens are built on scale, proportion, color, and thoughtful details💫

At Parterre, an urn becomes a focal point. A climbing rose softens a wall. A row of chartreuse planters transforms an entire garden room🌱

The magic is rarely in one grand gesture, it lives in the layers🌹

Save this for your next garden inspiration board🌿

Follow @privatenewport for more of the beautiful details most people overlook💐
#newportflowershow #parterregarden #privatenewport #privateliving #newportestates

privatenewport

Not every Newport treasure is made of marble…

At Parterre, the cutting garden is putting on its annual June performance, roses, blooms, and enough color to rival the rainbow itself…

The kind of place that makes you slow down, linger a little longer, and wonder why we rush through summer at all…

Save this for your next Newport daydream🌸

Follow for more of the Newport most people never get to see👀

#privatenewport #newportri #newportrhodeisland #gardeninspiration #newenglandsummer

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Jun 17

269 20
Open post by privatenewport with ID 17921305146376228
Not every Newport treasure is made of marble…

At Parterre, the cutting garden is putting on its annual June performance, roses, blooms, and enough color to rival the rainbow itself…

The kind of place that makes you slow down, linger a little longer, and wonder why we rush through summer at all… 

Save this for your next Newport daydream🌸

Follow for more of the Newport most people never get to see👀

#privatenewport #newportri #newportrhodeisland #gardeninspiration #newenglandsummer

privatenewport

Twenty-seven years ago, while Parterre was still being built, Bettie received a surprise Christmas gift from her husband: The Orangery…

Today, it stands at the center of the gardens, surrounded by decades of growth, memories, and beauty💫

As Parterre prepares for the Newport Flower Show, it’s a reminder that the most meaningful spaces aren’t created overnight … they’re cultivated over time⏳

Save this for garden inspiration🌿

Follow @privatenewport for the Newport stories, gardens, and hidden places few ever get to see☁️
#privatenewport #newportflowershow #privateliving #newportestates #privatehomes

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Jun 16

323 12
Open post by privatenewport with ID 17867470290562664
Twenty-seven years ago, while Parterre was still being built, Bettie received a surprise Christmas gift from her husband: The Orangery…

Today, it stands at the center of the gardens, surrounded by decades of growth, memories, and beauty💫

As Parterre prepares for the Newport Flower Show, it’s a reminder that the most meaningful spaces aren’t created overnight … they’re cultivated over time⏳

Save this for garden inspiration🌿

Follow @privatenewport for the Newport stories, gardens, and hidden places few ever get to see☁️
#privatenewport #newportflowershow #privateliving #newportestates #privatehomes

privatenewport

A rare Chinese weeping lilac cascading beside Parterre’s French-inspired “hobbit house” a scene that feels more Loire Valley than Rhode Island🌸

These are the hidden details that make Newport endlessly fascinating💫

✨ Save this for your next Newport daydream
✨ Share with someone who’d book a flight to France for this view

Follow @privatenewport for the Newport most people never get to see👀

#newportri #privatenewport #newenglandgardens #hiddennewport #newportrhodeisland

View Instagram post by privatenewport

Jun 14

554 15
Open post by privatenewport with ID 18101627747122671
A rare Chinese weeping lilac cascading beside Parterre’s French-inspired “hobbit house” a scene that feels more Loire Valley than Rhode Island🌸

These are the hidden details that make Newport endlessly fascinating💫

✨ Save this for your next Newport daydream
✨ Share with someone who’d book a flight to France for this view

Follow @privatenewport for the Newport most people never get to see👀

#newportri #privatenewport #newenglandgardens #hiddennewport #newportrhodeisland
Follow Bettie on Instagram

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Bettie's Faves

  • Charlotte Moss
  • La Dolce Vita
  • My Beautiful Paris
  • The Enchanted Home
  • The Glam Pad
  • The Lush List
  • The Potted Boxwood
  • Vicki Archer
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