Planting a rose garden in the Northeast

When planting a rose garden in Rhode Island, or even just a few roses in the Northeast, there are many choices to consider: color, variety, whether shrub, tea, or climbing, fragrance, and of course, you'll want pest-free roses, disease resistant, and winter hardiness.

St. Patrick's Day is fine time for gardening

The St. Patrick's Day parade in Newport, RI, is a fine time to celebrate your Irish heritage or pretend to be from the Old Sod even for the day. But from the looks of this morning's police report in the Newport Daily News, we're more than happy to have spent these early spring days in the back perennial garden at Linden Cottage.

This past weekend was exceptional, a few rare glorious days in March, warm and sunny and perfect for clearing last year's spent foliage, because its clear to walk and rake freely and not crush any fresh green shoots just before the spring bulbs poke through the cold spring ground.

Losing a dear friend and four-legged family member

Losing a much loved dog can break your heart, and this week, our family's collective heart was broken. Our daughter's family dog, Hazel, a Bernese Mountain dog, has visited so often, I felt like WE had lost her when she texted to say "Hazel just died," at 7:15 Sunday night. Even though life expectancy is relatively short for Bernese, we somehow thought Hazel would be super Bernese dog. She was a "super dog" just not in longevity. Our daughter wrote so poignant a message on Facebook, I cried once again and again and reading it now...again.

Making Christmas in southern Rhode Island

Christmas 2015

Finally getting the candles in the windows for Christmas in Newport,  I found myself opening five tiny doors at once today on the advent calendar; remembering when there was lively discussion every morning here, as to just whose turn it was and there never were enough doors and windows to go around.

Newport, oh, beautiful Newport, RI

It's June 2015, after one of the snowiest winters ever in southern Rhode Island. But the garden, after appearing quite wrecked late this winter, has recovered and is ready for your vacation this summer.

We have a new family hatched this early spring, born in our sun room gutter. Mama Mourning Dove is now on the lookout while fledgling gets the strength to fly away on his own.

Newport's summer just keeps getting better

Photo courtesy Chris Cameron 2012

After Newport's whirlwind summer with Tall Ships and America's Cup trials, the Volvo is upon us in 2015.

Baked stuffed lobster à la New England

Yesterday was National Lobster Day and all of New England is famous for its fresh fish. Here's a New England gastronomic favorite summer delicacy, an oh, so simple recipe for baked stuffed lobster. Because it is stuffed with the claw meat and scallops, it is also called Lobster 'Fisherman Style' in southern Rhode Island. The breading is light and not at all gooey. It's an easy recipe that can be prepared ahead and refrigerated until after cocktails.