(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
Saturday Morning Garden Blogging Vol. 21.11 Naragansett Bay and Newport, Rhode Island Wanderings [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-03-15
All are WELCOME!
Please join us!
************************************************
This garden blog is for gardeners of all levels, non-gardeners and all those in between! Our community conversations includes many knowledgeable and fun garden folks, with conversations often going into “unknown” territories where no folks have gone before (or something like that). Such is companionship.
SMGB is here every Saturday at 9:00 AM Eastern with new content and chatter often continuing throughout the week. Again, please join us as you’ll never know what you’ll discover.
There’s not much going on in my neck of the woods in the gardening realm as thick ice, snow flurries, high winds and freezing temps have kept things wintry until just a few days ago. There’s not even a peep of crocuses or daffs. So prepare yourselves for a little time travel back to the Fall and a short and very busy visit exploring the breadth of beauty of the Naragansett Bay area and Newport, Rhode Island.
Somewhere on Naragansett Bay near Fort Adams State Park.
One of the highlights of our journey, after our Halloween cemetery concert, was RISD (riz Dee), also known as the Rhode Island School of Design. Their art museum had to be mentioned because…
A Chihuly for all — It’s a bit far away, but I loved the window. Please ignore the finger tip ;)
This is for the many Chihuly fans here at SMGB. I believe someone here has a Chihuly calendar.
The Chihuly upclose in all its glory for all fans!
Plus some beautiful things!
A French wall paper exhibit opened after our visit, and I can’t wait to see it. I’ll get into my love of wall paper — yes, with FLOWERS — down the road, but now forwards.
Next Stop — Cliff Walk
This sign speaks for itself.
The Cliff Walk of 7.2 miles hugs the coastline of the Atlantic Ocean for spectacular views of nature on one side and the Summer “cottages” of the wealthy of the “Guilded Age” on the other side. It’s no wonder these homes are sited here. This path connected the homes and allowed residents to not just sit above nature , but to connect to it as well. Now it’s open to all.
Path near the Breakers cottage. The two pillars to the right are gate posts. Many of the houses had gates and paths directly to the Cliff Walk. There are very few sandy areas, but lots of boulders and CLIFFS. That Splash you see is a place where you can cool off in the mist and we did.
Mr. HY taking in the sights.
Near the end of the Cliff Walk on on the rocks. We meandered through Newport to return to the Cliff Walk as we started in the middle. Then we proceeded to hike to the North towards Easton Bay.
One of the cottages viewed from the Cliff Walk. Most places were difficult to see due to hedges and stone walls. We liked this one too as it was much less formal than the other places we visited.
Once we finished our Cliff Walk hike, we joined the Preservation Society of Newport County and toured some of the homes. We’re not really into mansions and ostentatious wealth (One of our super powers is living simply), but the craftsmanship on display in these homes astounds. Just their sheer size and grounds show why most of these homes became properties of the Preservation Society as they generally lost to families as subsequent generations lost interest, eroded their inherited wealth with poor management, expensive parties costing millions, expensive hobbies, lack of foresight and with their generosity. There are also some owners that gave their estates often withs stipulations or endowments to the Society. With this said, shall we?
The Breakers — Home of the Vanderbilts plus many staff and caretakers
(Built 1893 — 1895, Richard Morris Hunt, John Russell Pope Architects)
Built by industrialist Cornelius Vanderbilt II, folks consider the Breakers to be the grandest estate in Newport. There are many places to find out more about this estate and the others, so I won’t go there here. Below are just my flowery takeaways and me being enthralled with the artistry and craftsmanship. And interestingly enough, the fireplace in the library bears the inscription from a 16th century French chateau, “I laugh at great wealth, and never miss it; nothing but wisdom matters in the end.”
Massive Weeping birches on the grounds. Just beautiful with great big spaces to relax and hide beneath the branches. Great shade in the heat too.
The Library ceiling on the first floor
Second story railings overlooking the Great Hall, where one enters.
The Breakers second story loggia— magnificent views of the water. A seriously relaxing vibe. This is its ceiling.
And for the love of flowered wall paper:
Gertrude’s bedroom. She was an artist and founded the Whitney Museum in New York. I know not everyone loves wall paper, but I do!
Someone’s bedroom — The Missus I think
This wasn’t a Breakers wall paper, and I can’t remember where it was exactly. I think in Marble House.
My own wall paper.
Areas of it sparkles when the light is right.
For the life of me, we can not wall paper, but this was here when we moved into this abandoned 1854 residence.
Rosecliff — Home of Theresa Fair Oelrichs, also had a Vanderbilt connection, then others
(contructed 1898 — 1902, Stanford White — architect)
The American Beauty Rose was developed here as a cultivar of a French rose.
I suspect we have seen this one before. They were replanted in the rose garden not so long ago. There is also a climbing rose.
And less we not forget, The Great Gatsby filmed in 1974 with men who wore colors. It was filmed at Rosecliff, as was the remake with Leonardo DiCaprio, but my Mom watched this version over and over and over and over…. for years.
The fireplace mantle has lots of flowers on it. And as one tailoring critic website stresses - it takes quite a confident man to wear a pink suit as he’s is telling the husband of the love of his life that she doesn’t love said husband and never did. And yes, tailoring critic sites exist. Who knew?
Marble House — Home of William and Alva Vanderbilt
(constructed 1888 — 1902, Richard Morris Hunt — architect)
William presented this house to Alva as a gift on her 39th birthday. She viewed Marble House as a “Temple to the Arts” in America, and was quite the rare bird.
Mr. HY climbing the stair from the foyer. (He’s a power lifter, thus the buns.)
Alva was indeed rare for her time. She divorced her husband in 1895 after twenty years of marriage, with a very, very large settlement (in excess of 10 M) and several properties in her name. A feat essentially unheard of in this time period.
As president of the National American Woman Suffrage Association and the founder of the Political Equality League, Alva (now Belmont) also hosted meetings at Marble House. President Obama honored her on “Equal Pay Day,” April 12, 2016 as he established the Belmont-Paul Women’s Equality National Monument in Washington D.C. While she had numerous and ground-breaking progressive civic interests and accomplishments, when she was younger, she weirdly forced her unwilling daughter to marry into European royalty.
Here she is at Marble House where she held numerous women’s rights meetings, often at the Chinese Tea House on the grounds. She had the Chinese Tea House to symbolize women’s rights and the Women’s right movement then going on in China, but that’s a diary for another day.
One of the many meetings and conventions held at the Marble House and Chinese Tea house.
Our wanderings concluded at Blithewold Manor Gardens and Arboretum — Home of the Van Wickles in Bristol, Rhode Island
(constructed1895 — 1912, gardens developed by landscape architect, John DeWolf and Marjorie Lyons)
Numerous paths meander around the grounds overlooking Naragansett Bay. It was Fall, and although the house museum was closed, there was still plenty to see and enjoy. It was a beautiful day. Some of the many gardens include The Rock Garden, Shrub Walk, Vegetable Garden, Green House, Pollinator Garden, Water Garden,…….plus sitting on their docks.
Some green house joy!
Just walking about the many gardens!
They had a very large selection of dahlias!
A green House gem!
Yes — it’s a Redwood tree in the middle of Rhode Island.
It’s the largest Giant Redwood East of the Rockies! Fine Gardening magazine reported that it was planted in 1911.
Overall we enjoyed our trip as it was filled with nature, craftsmanship, flowers, wall papers, history and sweet aromas. May your garden trips be as joyful, and in the meantime, enjoy your own garden creations.
Happy Gardening!
P.S. — A plug for the Preservation Society of Newport County and the North American Reciprocal Museum Association (NARM). Membership opens the doors to thousands of museum properties throughout the States and other countries such as Canada and Mexico for a year. Our membership gets us out and we have more than paid for our membership in savings. It’s darned right fun too!
*******************************************************
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/3/15/2258092/-Saturday-Morning-Garden-Blogging-Vol-21-11-Naragansett-Bay-and-Newport-Rhode-Island-Wanderings?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
