Icon - Arrow LeftAn icon we use to indicate a rightwards action. Icon - Arrow RightAn icon we use to indicate a leftwards action. Icon - External LinkAn icon we use to indicate a button link is external. Icon - MessageThe icon we use to represent an email action. Icon - Down ChevronUsed to indicate a dropdown. Icon - CloseUsed to indicate a close action. Icon - Dropdown ArrowUsed to indicate a dropdown. Icon - Location PinUsed to showcase a location on a map. Icon - Zoom OutUsed to indicate a zoom out action on a map. Icon - Zoom InUsed to indicate a zoom in action on a map. Icon - SearchUsed to indicate a search action. Icon - EmailUsed to indicate an emai action. Icon - FacebookFacebooks brand mark for use in social sharing icons. flipboard Icon - InstagramInstagrams brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - PinterestPinterests brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - TwitterTwitters brand mark for use in social sharing icons. Icon - Check MarkA check mark for checkbox buttons.
You are reading

Rhode Island Roses: A Seaside Summer Garden in New England

Search

Rhode Island Roses: A Seaside Summer Garden in New England

June 1, 2015

Built in 1930, a shingled seaside cottage and its sprawling gardens in Little Compton, Rhode Island had seen better days by the time Dara and Dan Brewster bought the property in 2000. But then, isn’t every garden an ever-evolving rehab project?

Of course, not every summer cottage has wisteria growing through the roof.

The Brewsters (owners of online shop Dara Artisans) have–with the help of friends and family–tamed the wisteria, trained roses to grow over the front door, created a kitchen garden, and built terraces and retaining walls with local stone on the property’s six acres. For a tour of the interiors of the Brewsters’ house, see The Brewsters At Home In Little Compton, RI on Remodelista.

Photography by Nathan Fried Lipski of Nate Photography.

brewster-mailbox

Above: The Brewsters live on Sakonnet Point, with views of the sea and Newport, Rhode Island.

Brewster-House-Little-Compton-RI-Gardenista

Above: The driveway is bordered by hydrangea hedges.

brewster-roses-entryway-portico-new-england-gardenista

Above: Roses grow over the front entryway.

brewster-house-roses-exterior

Above: The major challenge in creating the seaside garden was to choose plants that would prove impervious to salt, sea spray, and wind. Hedges of pink rosa rugosa, salt tolerant and extremely happy if planted in New England, will thrive on beaches, dunes, roadsides, in vacant lots–or as a foundation planting as shown at the Brewsters’. For more, see 10 Easy Pieces: Perennials for the Seaside Garden.

brewster-garden-daisies

Above: Dan Brewster and his son, Graham, 26, built the dry-stone retaining walls.

brewster-outdoor-light-with-vine

Above: An exuberant morning glory vine climbs a lamppost.

brewster-flower-garden-hydrangeas-sunflowers-fence-gardenista

Above: Hydrangeas stand guard over the sunflowers.

brewster-garden-edible-kitchen-vegetables-gardenista

Above: The Brewsters have two perennial gardens, a kitchen garden (with four raised beds), and a naturalized garden along the perimeter of the property.

brewster-home-flowerbed

Above: Purple and white phlox in full summer bloom.

brewster-garden-bed-dahlias-gardenista

Above: Dahlias in the sun.

brewster-home-flowerbed-3

Above: A butterfly magnet, spiky white liatris will reach heights of up to 4 feet in the summer garden.

brewster-home-tools

Above: Tools of the trade.

brewster-house-little-compton-raspberries

Above: Raspberries begin to ripen.

dara-brewster-herb-pots

Above: Dara Brewster (L) and potted container plants.

BREWSTER-home-remodelista-39

Above: An outdoor room for gatherings and dinners is sheltered from the sea.

BREWSTER-home-remodelista-2

Above: The outdoor dining room is original to the property.

brewsters-kayak=bench

Above: Shutters get replaced every five to seven years after the wood succumbs to the effects of the harsh salt air.

BREWSTER-home-remodelista-35

Above: The garage.

brewster-garden-little-compton-late-afternoon-gardenista

Above: A late-afternoon view of the gardens and the sea.

For more of our favorite New England gardens, see Boston’s Best-Kept Secret: Eva’s Organic Garden.

(Visited 753 times, 1 visits today)
You need to login or register to view and manage your bookmarks.

Have a Question or Comment About This Post?

Join the conversation

v5.0