In part two of our special interview with Rough Point’ Estate Gardener Tessa Young, we talk about off-season gardening at Rough Point, advice on how to prep your plants and gardens for the winter, and how to successfully get cozy this winter with houseplants.
How do you winterize Rough Point’s beautiful Dahlia flowers?
TY: So typically with the Dahlia tubers that we do have, two weeks after our first frost date, we dig them up out of the ground and I let them dry for maybe about a week or so in our little greenhouse. Then I put them in lawn and leaf bags with wood shavings that we get from our [preservation] crew in town who does all the work on the houses. They give us their wood shavings to use. Then we bring the Dahlia tubers into a special room in the basement that brings in cold air from outside so that they stay in a nice, sort of, regulated cold climate. They stay dormant in there until the spring, when I start to bring them out and repot them again. Every year we do order some new tubers just in case something goes wrong. A couple of years ago, it was really, really, really cold. All of the tubers for the most part didn’t come back the next year—they died because it was too cold. So I always order more tubers just in case, but it makes it fun because then every year we have a couple of new varieties in the gardens and even more flowers out there.
If people have their own Dahlias or other flowering plants, is that something they should be doing to care for them?
TY: Absolutely. If you have your own Dahlias at home and you don’t want to have to buy completely new ones every year, you should be digging them up two weeks after the first frost date. In warmer climates, this doesn’t work in our [New England] zone, but in other climates you can leave them underground—or you can try putting landscape fabric on top of some of the tubers to see if they would winter over in the ground. We tried this last year, and most of them did [winterize], but last winter was a warmer winter for our climate. So I can’t use that going into the future, per se, just depending on how the winters are. So if you have your own Dahlias, you could do either or, but if you’re in a colder climate and you try to just leave them underground with some protection, you might be at risk of losing them for the following spring.
Especially with the pandemic and a lot more people staying cozy at home, is there anything that you would recommend for people who are more interested in trying to bring a little of the outside inside? Do you have any recommendations for people who are trying to grow their indoor gardens, or maybe start introducing new houseplants into their homes and trying to cohabitate with them?
When trying to bring greenery into the house over the wintertime, like houseplants and stuff like that, the best thing that you could do is look at what kind of windows you have in your home, and really think about light requirements for particular plants. I really recommend going to local nurseries, if you have them nearby, instead of going to the big box store places, just to help out your neighbor. But it’s great to bring plants inside. It helps improve your oxygen inside and everything like that. The one tip, I will say for sure with houseplants is also trying to not over-water them. That’s a very common thing. Typically with indoor plants, it’s kind of best to let them, unless they’re specific ones, dry out first. Otherwise you’re going to start getting soil gnats and things like that. You don’t want that in your house.
Head Housekeeper Pamela Carolino Lima describes projects during the off-season at Rough Point, shares some advice for cleaning furniture and other surfaces in our homes, and reflects on her role in making NRF Museums open and accessible to the public—as well as helping to ensure the museums’ preservation for future generations to enjoy. Listen here or read the transcript below!
Could you tell us your name, and what your title is here at the museums, and a little bit about what you do?
Pamela Carolino Lima: My name is Pamela. I am the Head Housekeeper for Rough Point and Whitehorne House Museum. What we do mostly is maintain our museum spaces and take care of our collections—everything from the tapestries, to our wood furniture, to our paintings, to anything that is marble or gilded, or the chandeliers, just to help maintain these pieces so that we can have them for a very long time, for our guests and for the community to be able to see and love them as much as we do.
Rough Point has a seasonal rhythm, and we’re typically not open to the public full-time during the off season, which is over the winter. How does that change the work you do and what kind of projects do you work on in the off-season?
PCL: In the off-season or in our winter season, we have various projects that we work on, which is more deep cleaning of some of our collection pieces and some of the areas that we can’t really do during the open season. So that’s taking care of our marble surfaces, taking care of our crystal chandeliers, more in depth cleaning. And along with that, also monitoring to see if anything has changed, cracked, broken, if anything needs repair. We’re also doing an evaluation of all of our pieces at the same time.
Can you tell us a little bit more about the cleaning process of the chandelier?
PCL: Sure. Cleaning the crystal chandelier is [a process involving] a mixture of water and vinegar, cleaning piece by piece one at a time, and then using cotton gloves to kind of buff that out. And the reason we use water and vinegar is because it doesn’t streak and it doesn’t have any harsh chemicals in there and doesn’t leave behind any residue on the crystal.
And about how many crystals are we’re talking about when you say you have to remove each one? Tens, hundreds?
PCL: Hundreds and hundreds.
You’re part of this bigger collections team in that you work with the Conservator as well. So could you talk a little bit more about how it is you work with the Conservator or are there things [that happen with the collections team] particularly in the off season?
PCL: Because I have more frequent contact with our collections and I’m in those spaces so often, it’s my responsibility to just monitor— to see if anything has changed, if anything is flaking, anything is broken, if stitching is coming undone, if there are any pests in the different collection spaces that are now affecting the collection— all of that information has to be gathered. And then I relay that on to our Curator and our Conservator, and we sit and come up with a solution if anything needs to be addressed. That could be implementing new guidelines for pest management, or [adjusting] if it’s something that has to do with the climate in the collection space. If a piece is being affected by more visitor traffic where it is located, maybe moving it. And then now with the pandemic, it has been about what chemicals will be effective in what we need to disinfect, but at the same time is not going to affect the collection. So it’s really a joint effort between the housekeeping department, the curatorial department, and our conservator to always try to maintain what is best for the collection so that we can preserve it and have it around for a really long time.
What are some of the challenges of cleaning Rough Point? Considering it was a house-people used to live here actively, but now it’s a museum.
PCL: So before, a lot of commercial products were used. For example, for years, all of the silver was polished in the house. And then shifting over to a museum, all of that has to change: how we maneuver through the house, what techniques we’re using, what kind of products we’re using, because now we have to be more conscious of the chemical emissions. What do these chemicals attract onto the pieces? Because we are a museum that’s by the ocean, we’re also combating some environmental things with all the salt in the air. It’s like this constant collecting of information, and monitoring, and adjusting accordingly, now that we are a museum.
Now during the pandemic, some of us have been staying at home more. I think most of us are more conscious about cleaning and surfaces. Do you have some advice on products that are going to be safe, but also effective?
PCL: If you have more modern furniture in your house, using everything that the CDC [Center for Disease Control] has recommended is fine. You just always want to monitor how that’s affecting the coloring in your furniture piece. If you have more antique or vintage pieces in your home, that’s where you have to adjust a little bit. We don’t recommend using bleach necessarily because of course it will affect the coloring if it has a finish, a varnish, a stain. What we have been using here at Rough Point on our wood surfaces–because we have a lot of that here at the house–we’ve been using a mixture of Orvis and water, which is a less harsh soap. And then we spray it onto a little cotton cloth and we wipe our furniture once a day and then just let it air dry. But it’s the same thing in your home, you just want to be aware of that because any kind of product that you do put on your piece, be it modern, be it an antique, it’s going to affect the finish. So you just want to mindful of that.
What, for you, is the most rewarding aspect of your work, or what do you enjoy about working at Rough Point?
PCL: When I first started, I was 18. So I think through the many years that I’ve been here, my love for culture and art and history has really grown. I’ve grown very fond of the collection. One of my favorite things was having the kids’ school groups come through, and them now discovering our collection and seeing our collection and enjoying it, and just fostering this love for the house and for what is in it. I think for me, those things have been my greatest joys here because I experienced that, then you get to see the next generation experiencing that too.
What do you wish that visitors coming to Rough Point knew about the work you do that maybe they don’t notice?
PCL: Well, my desire is that this house is around for a really long time for people to enjoy, for the next generation to enjoy. And the work that I do here contributes to that. And it’s not just what would fall into a janitorial category, it’s so much more than that. We [the other housekeeper, Delma, and Pam] are way more hands-on than I think people really know. We really need to become quite intimate with all of the pieces here, so I don’t think people really realize that. And we really have grown to love the work that we do here.
Any last thing you want to say?
PCL: I hope the interest for this house grows because we are very different from the other houses down the Ave [Bellevue Avenue]. And I hope that when people walk through our doors, they not only grow to love the house, but to love Ms. Duke’s story, and that they feel that warmth that I’ve grown to feel when I walk through these doors and really get to know how much of a gem this house is in Newport.
With profound sadness, Newport Restoration Foundation shares the news of the passing on November 28, 2020 of our former Board Chair, Roger Mandle. Roger joined the NRF Board in 2002 while serving as the President of Rhode Island School of Design. He left the Board in 2008 to become Executive Director and Chief Officer of Museums at Qatar Museums Authority in Doha, Qatar, but rejoined after returning to New England four years later. In December 2013, he was elected Board Chair of NRF and served in that role for five years.
Roger’s passion for life and the depth and breadth of his experience inspired all of us who had the pleasure to work with him. As a leader, his enthusiasm was infectious. He understood the role that an organization like NRF could play in the life of the community, and he recognized that the word “community” encompasses everybody who lives and works here.
Although he is perhaps best known in Rhode Island for his role in academia, his knowledge of museums, and especially art museums, was unsurpassed. Prior to his arrival at RISD, he served as Associate Director of the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Director of the Toledo Museum of Art, and Deputy Director and Chief Curator of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
Roger retired as NRF Board Chair to devote more time to the Massachusetts Design Art & Technology Institute (DATMA), a New Bedford organization he co-founded with his wife, Gayle Wells Mandle, in 2016. Contributions in his memory may be made to DATMA or RISD.
Newport is a unique city filled with special stories. The Newport Restoration Foundation interprets the life of Doris Duke, one of Newport’s most famous residents, but her story is only one part of the many-layered portrait of our community. As a member of the Newport community, NRF embraces the textured history of the city, and welcomes the stories and memories of the many different people who lived and live here.
By sharing your own story, you contribute to the collective and varied memory of our city, and we hope you are able to find connections with others in our community as you look through the collection. The Memory you submit may reflect on any topic you choose; this is your story after all! We’ve included some question prompts below if that helps you to begin brainstorming, but if you would like to explore a memory or story of Newport that falls outside of the questions we’ve posed, please feel free to pursue it.
What is your first memory of Newport?
What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Newport?
What object do you own/have at home that most reminds you of Newport?
What changes have you seen take place in Newport during your lifetime?
You are free to share your Memory with us however you would like: through video, audio recording, written story, poetry, art, etc. Contributions will be posted to NRF’s online collection on Flickr, where you will be able to see your submission alongside other Newporters’. Click below to view the page.
Submissions may be made as text, video, audio, or photo. Text submissions may not exceed 1000 characters.
Memories will be posted online within 5 business days.
If you have any questions regarding this project or your submission, please contact Caitlyn Sellar at caitlyn@newportrestoration.org. Thank you for sharing your memories with us!
Photo courtesy of Doris Duke Charitable Foundation Historical Archives, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
It’s the holiday season—and even though for most of us the holidays will be very different this year, here are some great ideas to help celebrate the season, whether you are cozy at home or with your quaran-team!
Check out our Holiday Gift Guide below to help make it easier to find a gift for that special someone, or maybe yourself, this holiday season.
Thank you for supporting the Newport Restoration Foundation and for shopping local. All proceeds benefit NRF and help promote our mission. For a limited time, you can enjoy free standard shipping—as well as free local delivery and free local pickup.
Get Holiday Ready:
Holiday Collection: Celebrate the holidays with featured ornaments, exclusive products inspired by the museum collections, and special gifts (for you, or to share!)
Ornaments: From the iconic exterior of Rough Point, an homage to Doris’s passion for jazz, to brightly-colored handcrafted designs, these ornaments are perfect to display at home all year-round.
For Entertaining: Entertain in style (or dress up a cozy night at home) with these beautiful, collection-inspired, eco-friendly napkins, plates, coasters, and guest towels.
Unique gifts for all:
For the book-lover: From Doris Duke’s closets & collections, to historic Newport buildings, inside looks at Rough Point, colonial life, & Newport furniture, garden-related stories for gardeners & enthusiasts, and kid-friendly new favorites & classics—discover a book for everyone!
For the decisive decision-maker: Featuring a saying from a pillow gifted to Doris Duke, these items showcase Doris’s sense of humor (and your own!)
For the furniture fan: These items are inspired by Whitehorne House Museum’s collection of exquisitely crafted furniture and the stories of the people who designed, made, and purchased furniture and related crafts.
For your furry friends: Our pets deserve some TLC this winter season (*all products are rated two paws up!)
For the gardener: Stylish & sturdy gardening gloves, beautiful books, hand salve, & more. NRF Estate Gardener approved!
For hardworking hands: Soaps, hand butter, hand salve and more! Everything you need to pamper your hard-working hands. From relaxing to invigorating scents—go ahead and indulge. Locally made with organic and sustainably sourced ingredients.
For kids: Fun, educational, and whimsical products for the littlest explorers, artists, and gardeners.
For restoration buffs: Founded in 1968 by Doris Duke, NRF works to study climate change resilience in Newport, develop new community-oriented programs, preserve our museums and historic buildings, and steward centuries-old properties. You too can join us in supporting this work.
For the yogi: These custom yoga pants are relaxing, comfy, & stylish. Limited quantities!
Follow us on social media @nptrestoration or sign up to receive newsletters to stay in the know about new products and new sales.
Our special holiday pop-up is located at Rough Point Museum, 680 Bellevue Ave. Open weekends during the holiday season, including November 27th and January 1.
As Rough Point Museum wraps up its regular season, our Estate Gardeners must also prepare the gardens for the upcoming winter. We took some time to interview Estate Gardener, Tessa Young, to see what goes into winterizing the grounds of Rough Point, what the camels will be up to, as well as what not to miss when you visit the museum this fall and winter. Listen here or read the transcript below!
Could you remind us about how many different people are on the Grounds crew, and then what it is that you do and how that would change during this time of year heading into fall and winter?
Tessa Young: Currently there are four people on the Grounds Crew. There’s one full time employee (he’s the Groundskeeper), one seasonal Groundskeeper, and then another employee who is an assistant to Grounds and Gardens. And then there’s me, as the Estate Gardener.
This time of year heading into fall, it’s a lot of leaf cleanup and leaf blowing after the drought of the summer. Typically in the past few years we’ve had droughts, so the grass is finally coming back. There’s minimal grass mowing, and that’s all on the Grounds side of things. Then on my side, it’s a lot of cutting back plants as they expire in the gardens and starting to slowly get all the plants cut down in preparation for the winter so that the gardens will be bare for the spring.
What happens to the [living sculpture] camels over the winter?
TY: Over the winter, the camels just hang out where they are. The plants go dormant and some of them do unfortunately die over the winter, just from the cold. And then in the spring we’ll get back to taking care of them and clean them up for when you guys come and visit when it gets warm out again.
Do you, as a gardener, typically spend this time doing more planning for the future, or is there stuff that happens indoors as well?
TY: In some ways there is planning. I’ve been walking around looking at bare places that could have fall flowers, and I’m thinking about what I could plant next year so that this time of year there’s more to offer in this season. Otherwise when it gets a little bit colder, I’ll start ordering more Dahlia tubers for the spring to plant and thinking about what kind of color scheme I might want out there next year. I’m also getting all the different Kitchen Garden seeds for vegetable crops in order and making a list of things that I might want to add, or different seed packets I might need to get for the future.
During this time of year as well, we winterize the fig trees in the Kitchen Garden and the Banana Tree in the Tropical Garden. So with the fig trees, this’ll be our second year trying this new method which worked very well last year. We tie them together into almost teepee shapes and then we wrap them with moving blankets. Then on top of that, we wrapped them with heavy duty, sheeted, plastic wrap and they stay there until it stops being so cold at night. When the temperatures start to regulate, then we take that all off. Sometimes there is some deadheading just from some frozen branches from the top down that we have to take care of. With the Banana Tree, I cage it off with some chicken fence and build a cage around it. I then layer a whole bunch of fall leaves on top of that to help keep it warmer in there so that the core doesn’t die and freeze over the winter.
We still get people who comment on how spectacular and beautiful the grounds are even into the fall and winter. Even though it’s clearly different than when it blooming, is there something that you find special or attractive about the grounds when it’s in this stasis?
TY: The winter time is a great time on the Rough Point grounds to really notice how spectacular our Pines and Yews are here. We have a great number of really old Yews, which you don’t see a lot of at that kind of age. It’s a specimen tree. You don’t see a lot of those sorts of trees around very often. That’s really the time to appreciate evergreens. And if you’re here on a day that it snows, or there’s snow on the ground or in the trees, that’s really great too. Especially looking at the Turkey Oak because it’s such a big magnificent tree. Just having the branches laden with the snow is a really pleasant experience.
And even in the barrenness of the gardens, there’s something beautiful in that because you can use your imagination and try to think about what might be coming in the following spring, without it being so busy and already presented to you. That’s a fun [way to] look at it in the winter time.
Rough Point Museum closes for the regular season after Sunday, November 15. You can also join us for A Rough Point Holiday coming weekends this holiday season starting Friday, November 27. Click here to learn more.
