Blithewold's education programs are available to custom tailior your group's experience. We realize that each group is unique and so we've created a selection of interactive workshops and tours available to create your own special day at Blithewold.
Interactive Offerings for Group Tours
Art Programs
Yoga Programs
Music Programs
A Cup Full of Sound and Beauty
Songs and Music Before the Great Depression
Garden Programs
Behind the Scenes Flower Garden Tour
The Charm of a Late Season Garden (August - October)
Tour of the Cutting Garden Followed by Floral Arranging
History Programs
Art Programs
Postcards from the Gardens
Learn (or renew) basic techniques of watercolor painting on postcard sized sheets to capture scenes of beautiful Blithewold. Bring a camera. Some drawing experience required.
- No weekends
- 45 minutes – 1 Hour
Schedule at least 3 weeks prior to your groups expected visit date.
Prerequisite: Some drawing experience
Group Size: 10 - 12 people
Instructor's Fee per Group: $50
Individual Workshop Fee: $25 (includes you-get-to-keep supplies)
Sketching Tour of Blithewold
Capture the beauty of Blithewold on this sketching tour after a quick review of drawing techniques such as shading, contour drawing and use of negative space. Create several quick sketches or one detailed sketch on the grounds of this lovely estate. Bring a camera. Some drawing experience required.
- No weekends
- 45 minutes - 1 hour
Schedule at least 3 weeks prior to your groups expected visit date.
Prerequisite: Some drawing experience
Group Size: 10 - 12 people
Instructor's Fee per Group: $50
Individual Workshop Fee: $8 - $10 (includes you-get-to-keep supplies)
Fairy House in a Basket
Participants will make a fairy house and take it home.
25-30 participants
$75 class fee
$30 supply fee per person
1 ½ hour
Schedule at least 3 weeks prior to your groups expected visit date.
Prerequisite: None
Group Size: 25 - 30 participants
Instructor's Fee per Group: $75
Individual Workshop Fee: $30 (includes you-get-to-keep supplies)
Yoga Programs
Yoga
Yoga, yoga stretch, chair yoga; Participants provide mat, beach towel or cushion and water
- 1 hour (can be less)
Group Size: Up to 100 people
Instructor's Fee per Group: $50
Music Programs
A Cup Full of Sound and Beauty
Two musicians with 16th century wind instruments present music and songs celebrating the beauty of nature in the Blithewold gardens.
- 30 - 45 minutes
Group Size: 20-50 participants ages 15 to adult
Instructor's Fee per Group: $240
Songs and Music Before the Great Depression
Two musicians present songs and stories with 16th century wind instruments, piano and guitar reflecting entertainment when Blithewold was young.
- 30 - 45 minutes
Group Size: 20-50 participants ages 15 to adult
Instructor's Fee per Group: $240
Garden Programs
Behind the Scenes Flower Garden Tour
This tour will look closer at our flower garden practices such as soil enhancing, fertilizing, plant choices for perennials, annuals and bulbs, dead heading and cutting back; all to benefit continuous blooms throughout the season.
- 1 ½ hours
Group Size: 25 participants
Instructor's Fee per Group: $75
The Charm of a Late Season Garden (August – October)
This tour will focus on perennial and annual plant selections for a late season garden. Emphasis will be on late blooming perennials, tender perennials, long lasting annuals and dahlias.
- 1 ½ hours
Group Size: 25 participants
Instructor's Fee per Group: $75
Tour of the Cutting Garden Followed by Floral Arranging
Tour the cutting garden followed by a floral arranging class. Participants will get to take home an arrangement from Blithewold.
- 1 ½ - 2 hours
Group Size: 25-30 participants
Instructor's Fee per Group: $75 class fee
Individual Workshop Fee: $15 supply fee per person
The Trees of Blithewold
Join Dan Christina, Assistant Grounds Manager, as he introduces the many unusual specimen trees in Blithewold’s arboretum.
- 1 hour
- Considerable walking is involved
Maximum Group Size: 40 participants
Instructor's Fee per Group: $75
History Programs
Blithewold History
A PowerPoint presentation by Margaret Whitehead, curator
- 1 hour
Maximum Group Size: 20 participants
Instructor's Fee per Group: $50
Legacy of an American Family
Book discussion by Margaret Whitehead, curator
- 1 hour
Maximum Group Size: 20 participants
Instructor's Fee per Group: $50
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Tuesday, June 04
- Tuesday, September 03
Yoga Days at Blithewold: Tuesday and Thursday -
Thursday, June 06
- Thursday, September 05
Yoga Days at Blithewold: Tuesday and Thursday -
Wednesday, June 26
Music at Sunset- Michelle Cruz
Upcoming events
Follow Blithewold
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Outrageously ornamental onions
(Jun 14, '13)
Even though the foxgloves have been outstanding in the Rose Garden and the roses and delphinium have begun to show off, I am still being distracted by allium. But then class clowns are usually pretty distracting. — In the best way. Last year we ordered more ornamental onions than we ever had before and planted ... -
Costume Conservation Continues
(May 30, '13)
One of the most exciting days in my tenure at Blithewold was the day Bessie Van Wickle McKee’s collection of fine gowns returned permanently to Blithewold from Boston where they had been in safe keeping at the headquarters of the … Continue reading
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