Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold

Small delights

Right at the cusp of a season full of overwhelming delights, I discovered a teeny-tiny one. It’s a very small thing but for me, it was kind of huge. Ever since I found out that … Read more.

Acknowledgements

Any holiday or page in a book set aside for expressions of gratitude is just the best thing ever. So I thought I should celebrate this Thanksgiving by at least attempting to acknowledge the the … Read more.

Gratuitous Friday foliage

I just can’t help myself. The Japanese maples are totally knocking my socks off. Since it’s forecast to be a beautiful weekend, why not come see for yourself? (The pictures don’t do it justice. Standing … Read more.

Stockpiling color

I think we gardeners are generally pretty good at finding color during a black&white winter but I still always feel like I should stock up before fall’s blaze dims. Even in the half-light of a … Read more.

“I Simply Love It”

“I simply love it,” was Jane Hennessey, fifth year decorating volunteer’s response to why she keeps coming back to help prepare Blithewold for Christmas at Blithewold every year. Jane and her best friend, Debbie Brown, … Read more.

Tovah Martin to the rescue

As soon as I published about Stephen Orr speaking at our Garden Design Luncheon, I found out that he couldn’t get out of NYC. We know he would have been here if he possibly could … Read more.

Decadent Decorations Dominate the Staircase

Although Hurricane Sandy struck Rhode Island last Sunday-Monday evening, Blithewold’s dedicated decorators were back in action Wednesday, pushing forward with their decorating mission. While walking through the mansion I was able to speak with a … Read more.

Ticking time bombs

It was a big and busy day yesterday, in more ways than one. We passed another milestone in this year’s garden calendar – the first real killing frost fell finally. And while that marked the … Read more.

Christmas at Blithewold 2012: “A Grand Tour of Europe”

Can you believe winter is just around the corner? We can—because it’s that time of year again… Christmas at Blithewold! I know what you’re thinking … so soon? It’s never too soon for Christmas, so … Read more.

November 1903 – Rome

Marjorie’s European Tour, 1903-1904 Taken from letters to her mother, Bessie We go back 109 years, and it is November 1903. Twenty-year-old Marjorie was very sorry to be leaving Florence, but madly excited to get … Read more.