Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold

Goodnight gardens

After some festive weeks spent preparing for our Christmas display and this week’s wreath workshops, it was pure pleasure to be out in the gardens again. Despite the chill that crept into fingers and toes. Earlier … Read more.

Greenhouse thanksgiving

No doubt about it, I have a lot to be thankful for. It might seem trivial compared to how grateful I am for things like my health and the amazing friends I’ve made here at … Read more.

Christmas at Blithewold “You Are Invited”

Although Blithewold is closing to the public this week, it is anything but quiet around the Mansion. We are now preparing to get the Mansion dressed up for Christmas! It is a bit hard to … Read more.

One step back…

…two ahead. By now there should be a spring in our dance step – and there is. I can tell because it squishes. This week another 2″ of rain fell. But on top of that, a … Read more.

Shedding the springter blues

Just as spring was beginning to assert itself — Iris reticulata opened the other day, the daffodils are up and some are budded, Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas) buds have cracked open — winter hurled another … Read more.

March ado

I’m not even going to bother go in search for spring outside today because it looks and feels too much like winter again. Blustery. Bitter cold. Snowy, even (though nothing compared to other parts of … Read more.

Bring on spring

We’ve made room in the propagating house for trays of seedlings. We’ve ordered new tools and can’t wait to use them. We’re ready. Raring to go. Fingers tapping. Meanwhile, there’s nothing better than a bucket … Read more.

A sow-called spring

I haven’t spotted any crocus, snowdrops or early daffs blooming yet, and I know the calendar says spring is still a whole month away, but in the greenhouse the growing season officially kicked off yesterday. … Read more.

Valentine’s Day roundup

I don’t know about you but another dumping of winter white that turned almost immediately to slushy gray has my eyes crying out for spring. As luck would have it (and by luck I mean … Read more.

Wake-up call

I heard a collective groan go out as the groundhog’s prediction was announced and I joined right in. We have certainly endured more unpleasantly frigid weather this winter than seems tolerable or normal. But I … Read more.