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History of Newport and the Mansions
Founded in 1639, Newport was an important port city, a center of the slave trade, a fashionable resort and the summer home of the Gilded Age rich.
What was the Gilded Age?
The Gilded Age was a period of unprecedented change in America. Fortunes were spent on luxuries such as the lavish "summer cottages" of Newport.
Deep Dive into the Show
Learn about the people, places and events depicted in Julian Fellowes' popular historical drama series.
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Our mission is to protect, preserve, and present the best of Newport County's architectural heritage. Learn more about us and our work.
Wind Farm Federal Appeal: FAQs
The Preservation Society of Newport County is appealing federal agency approval of two massive wind farms off the Rhode Island coast.
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Entering is easy and everyone is welcome! You do not have to be a member of a garden club or any horticultural organization. There are horticulture classes for all levels of gardener, from the weekend dabbler to the experienced horticulturist. Bring your favorite plant, your prettiest cut specimen or plant something completely new, inspired by this year’s horticulture classes.
Deliver entries on Wednesday, June 19, 2024, 1-4 pm and Thursday, June 20, 2024, 8 am-10 am to the back lawn of Rosecliff, 548 Bellevue Ave., Newport, adjacent to the parking lot. Entrants, please allow sufficient time to complete registration and entry cards as well as for the passing process for each entry. Exhibitors with multiple entries should allow an hour or more to complete the process. Passing for Divisions I & II closes promptly at the times stated; no entries will be passed after this time. Assistance will be available to move large containers.
Deliver entries on Thursday, June 20, 2024, 8 am-1 pm to the back lawn of Rosecliff, 548 Bellevue Ave., Newport, adjacent to the parking lot. Registration closes promptly at 1 p.m.; exhibitors with multiple entries should arrive no later than noon. No entries will be passed after 1 p.m. Cut specimens must be properly conditioned to survive the entire run of the show, in an un-air-conditioned tent. The Newport Flower Show reserves the right to remove wilted and damaged cut specimens.
Each entrant to the Horticulture Division must complete one horticulture registration card plus an entry card for each container or cut specimen entered. To arrange to pick up cards in advance of the show, please email events@newportmansions.org before June 14, 2024.
On entry days, registration and entry cards will be available at the passing tables behind Rosecliff. We encourage you to complete registration and entry cards in advance, if possible. Completed cards should be taken to the Registration tables in the Rosecliff parking lot opposite the passing tables, where horticulture registration cards will be reviewed and marked with an “R” for “registered.”
After registering, please visit the grooming station in the passing area for a final review of your entry before proceeding to the appropriate passing table for your class number. For cut specimens, choose an appropriate vase provided by The Newport Flower Show. At the passing table, your entry will be reviewed, and each entry card will be marked with a “P” for “passed.” And you’re done! Entries will then be staged in The Newport Flower Show.
Please note that entries may not be entered under a commercial or business name. Entries may be made under an estate name.
An exhibitor who does not derive any income from horticulture.
An exhibitor who derives income from horticulture.
An exhibitor who has never won a blue ribbon in a major flower show.
A first-time exhibitor who has never entered the Horticulture Divisions of The Newport Flower Show.
How to properly measure a container: Size is measured as the longest inside dimension across the top of the pot; rectangular pots are measured on the diagonal. Disguised double potting is permitted. The inside pot is the one to be measured.
American Rose Society: http://www.ars.org/about_roses/classification.html Rhode Island Rose Society: http://www.rirs.org American Hydrangea Society: http://www.americanhydrangeasociety.org North American Lily Society: http://www.lilies.org/types.html Rhode Island Wild Plant Society: http://www.riwps.org Native Plant Trust: http://www.nativeplanttrust.org Royal Horticulture Society: http://www.rhs.org.uk American Horticulture Society: http://www.ahs.org The American Horticultural Society A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants – Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk The New Royal Horticultural Society Index of Garden Plants – Mark Griffiths Native Trees, Shrubs, and Vines – William Cullina Herbaceous Perennial Plants – Allan M. Armitage Dirr’s Hardy Trees and Shrubs – Michael A. Dirr
Cut plants outside in the early morning or late afternoon/evening, not in the heat of midday. Give the stem a fresh, angled cut under water with a clean instrument and place it in room-temperature water in a cool, shady area for 2 to 12 hours. Optional: Use a water-soluble cut flower preservative in the conditioning solution.
Cleaning plant material to remove unsightly parts, dirt and/or spray residue. Grooming should not alter the typical features of the plants or flowers.
Identifying all flower and plant entries with correct botanical names. Include the common name, botanical name and species or variety. Examples: Common / Botanical / Species or Variety Lily / Lilium / “Casa Blanca” Lavender / Lavendula angustifolia / “Hidcote”
Passers check to make sure exhibits are of show quality, properly groomed, pest- and disease-free, are in appropriate containers, meet class specifications, and are labeled correctly.
Designing the Show layout of horticulture exhibits.
A plant that usually germinates, flowers and dies in one growing season (does not “winter over.”) Such a plant is termed “non-hardy.”
A plant that takes between 12 to 24 months to complete its life cycle. Can self-seed (i.e., Foxglove).
A group of one or more genera that share a set of underlying features. Family names end in -aceae.
A plant that is a distinct variant of its species.
Shed their leaves at the same time annually.
Plants exhibited primarily for their foliage. A few flowers on the plants are acceptable unless noted.
Group of one or more plants that share a wide range of characteristics.
A photo of your exhibit attached (or printed) on white card stock no larger than 5” x 8”. A numbered list of botanical and common names refers to the corresponding numbered plant in the photo.
The predominant roses of today in active development by hybridists after 1867.
A plant naturally occurring in its given environment. Native plants vary by geographic area.
The classes of roses that were established before 1867.
A plant with non-woody stems that lives for more than 2 years, flowering over many seasons. Such a plant is termed “hardy.”
Group of plants that are capable of producing offspring similar to themselves.
The classes of roses which include both the truly wild species and those garden forms associated with them.
A plant exhibiting vigorous, healthy growth, with an excellent general appearance resulting from growing in the correct environment.
The shape that is the true or characteristic form of a flower or plant.
Beauty due to a balanced proportion of parts on a flower or plant.
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Parking is free onsite at all properties except for Hunter House and The Breakers Stable & Carriage House, where street parking is available.
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Explore the 11 properties under the stewardship of the Preservation Society and open as historic house museums.
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