The Portsmouth Garden Club
Portsmouth, Rhode Island
June 21,2025 Portsmouth Garden Club Blue Ribbon at Newport Flower Show and exhibit by member Colleen by Gebhard.
For the fourth year in a row the club has won a Blue Ribbon for its entry in the club challenge class. The show was entitled A Floral Fair and Class 1 in the Horticultural division was "Newport Fairy Gardens". A large empty planter-bowl was provided by the show committee. A miniature garden then would have to be designed and planted. The team selected to do Cottages. Members Karen Saucier, Suzan Ballard and Colleen Gebhard purchased and grew the 8 miniature trees and the 12 miniature plants and created the scene and with its small architectural details. The group described their entry on the keycard as-
"We hope to show a miniature Newport Cottage Garden set with exotic specimen trees, ornate greenhouse, walking path, and flowering plants reminiscent of a landscape created by Frederick Law Olmsted & Sons during the Gilded Age.
The vogue of flower fairies in the garden was first created by
Cicely Mary Barker during the reign of Victorian Queen Mary in her series of children’s books.
A delightful interpretation.
Member Colleen Gebhard also entered a personal creation in miniatures as a non-competitive exhibit. It is entitled "Tess goes to the fair (of 1893)". "Tess" relates to the theme of the show: Floral Fair and celebrates Rosecliff's owner, Theresa Fair Olerich. Thus, using a theme of a play on her maiden name, entries showcased her life and accomplishments during the period of the Golden Age. A beautifully designed and executed entry by Colleen.
