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Eric D Groft

@ericdgroft

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Newport Design Week 2026 brought together a truly exceptional group of voices, and we couldn’t be more grateful to each of them for sharing their time and expertise at Ochre Court.

From museum curators and decorative arts historians to leading architects, interior designers, and industry leaders in color, textiles, and landscape design, this year’s speakers represented the full breadth of the design world. Their perspectives, spanning centuries of craft and the cutting edge of the industry today, are exactly what set Newport Design Week apart.

Thank you to every speaker who took the stage this year. 🤎

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What a week! From the gilded halls of Ochre Court to golden hour on the lawn, Newport Design Week 2026 brought together the visionaries, the tastemakers, and everyone who believes good design is worth celebrating.

Thank you to every speaker, sponsor, partner, and guest who filled these rooms with ideas, laughter, and a little bit of magic. You made this week what it was.

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At Newport Design Week, you’ll dine inside the mansions built by Gilded Age fortunes, hear from the great granddaughter of May Goelet, and swap notes with the people actually shaping the design world right now: museum curators, architects, Sotheby’s specialists, and more.

July is when Newport is at its best, and this is one event you won’t want to miss.

Tickets are moving fast. Get yours before they’re gone - link in bio.

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As CEO of the renowned firm Oehme, van Sweden, @ericdgroft has shaped some of the country’s most significant grounds, from the White House Rose Garden to the Federal Reserve campus, always with a deep respect for region, climate, and the natural character of a place. His is a philosophy of working with the land rather than against it, which feels especially right for a coastline like ours.

He joins us for two talks. On July 23rd, he explores the American Museum and Gardens in Bath, England, a celebration of over 200 years of design. Then on July 24th he returns alongside architect @tomkligerman for “Cross-Currents,” exploring where great architecture and great landscape design meet.

Two lectures, and a whole new appreciation for how landscape architecture sets the stage before you even reach the front door.

🎟️ Tickets through the link in our bio

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Waiting on 248 guests for our annual Chairman’s Award luncheon at The Metropolitan Club, a classic Gilded Age mansion on Fifth Avenue. #newyork #newyorkcity #gildedage #metropolitanclub #nyclandmarks

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An inspiring visit with Hugo Toro who spoke about the importance of his family roots and their impact on his work from Mexico to France. Thank you @hugotoro_ for sharing your journey and to @jpterrebonne @galeriemagazine and @perrotin for organizing a special evening.

#interiordesigninspiration #art #painter #design #hugotoro

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CSU LA Days Lecture Series begins this week! Don't miss out!
#CSU #Lectureseries #landscapearchitecture #LADAYS

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For world poetry day, here’s my poem dedicated to my dear friend Bea Elyé from Buffalo, NY. Sadly she’s long gone, but her influence on me continues to grow! As the Virginia Blue bells (Mertensia virginica) begin to emerge every Spring I think of her poking and prodding me to learn the Latin. She was an artist, author, teacher, poet, and nationally known gardener.
My world for better or worse combines poetry,art, and nature. I’ve been asked why name my series of abstract art coming up May 14th @arthub609 (you’re all invited!) Cellular Drift? (Actually @noeldavidcarson came up with the name.) It seems that even when venturing into abstract my mind can’t let go of the woods that I live in every day. And the book of poetry that goes with this show is titled ADRIFT because I do just that- some days I’m writing, some drawing, and others…playing in dirt!

I’m going to be posting more about this show and how grateful I am to Will Teass, Charles Warren from @teasswarrenarchitects and Ryan Moody from @instamoodygraham - their space is incredible! Special thanks to Stevie Bishop for all of the back of the house logistics!

If truth be known @ericdgroft had a lot to do with my learning the Latin names of plants-so much so that in the case of the Trachystemon orientalis that’s coming up with fabulous BlueSky prehistoric blossoms- I don’t even know the common name! @oehmevansweden
#worldpoetryday #mentors #abstract #art #dyslexic

Finally, you are all invited into my garden and the edgeworthia is in full bloom- you can’t believe the incredible perfume! No appointment needed - just close the gates!

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A little holiday cheer with some of the OvS crew. Grateful for our team and the season that brings us together.

#ovs #oehmevansweden #landscapearchitecture
#gardendesign #beyondbold #inspirethroughnature
#extraordinaryoutdoorspaces #landscapeinspiration #washingtondc

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Who wants my garden journal? Chock full of advice and even a recipe 🤣 …. There is a keeper letter from Bea - my mentor! And Bea was about 71 when she published Jump Start a book on how to teach gifted children. She was brilliant and could grow anything from seed-I, unfortunately, have not yet mastered many of her instructions! She was also a very talented artist. I’ve kept these for every house I’ve owned. Looking back…Bea always said,”you aren’t truly a gardener if you don’t lose at least 10% of what you try. I’ve maxed that out pretty much every year! And my pals over @oehmevansweden @ericdgroft @dcldp on more than one occasion sent plants I could try killing! Most surviving plants have tried to take over-there’s a battle raging. The backyard certainly has evolved- numerous redoing… as I age, I find myself trying to figure out how to maintain year round blooms AND a reduction of effort! I haven’t solved the latter as yet. Keeping a record helps in many ways:
Where I planted what- plan for the next season during frozen winter months
Learn Latin names (one per year was Bea’s charge to me)
Perhaps a tax deduction when I sell the place— anyone want to hazard a guess on sunk cost inside that book….
Things I would’ve forgotten…memories are priceless.
#gardening #gardeninglife #gardenjournal #memories #gardendesign

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I was able to view this insanely beautiful property today that is filled with natives. The property owner was inspired by @doug_tallamy book, Bringing Nature Home - How you can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants. It just goes to show that planting with natives can be beautiful plus they are so beneficial and help to sustain our wildlife. The landscape architecture was done by @carolkurth @oehmevansweden @ericdgroft

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Join OvS for a webinar discussing the White House Rose Garden on Thursday, October 30, 2025, 2 pm - 3 pm EST. See link in bio for tickets @thegardenconservancy.

In 2018, OvS embarked on one of its most ambitious projects in the firm’s history: the renovation of the White House Rose Garden. In this presentation, OvS principals Eric Groft and Lili Herrera will illustrate the research, planning, and design that helped guide the Garden’s renewal and curate an outdoor experience transcendent of each administration. The presentation will address OvS’ White House Rose Garden Landscape Report, and how it informed the design updates that allow for universal accessibility, modernized systems of irrigation and drainage, improved media technology and other electrical infrastructure, as well as a renewed palette of roses and other blight-resistant species that are better suited for this hallowed space.

📷: Andrea Hanks

#ovs #oehmevansweden #landscapearchitecture
#gardendesign #beyondbold #inspirethroughnature
#extraordinaryoutdoorspaces #landscapeinspiration #washingtondc #whitehouse #rosegarden

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