Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold

Mid-summer shift

The gardens are going through a bittersweet transition from June’s hurrah to a mid-summer huzzah, and although we sometimes experience a “July gap,” the shift seems pretty seamless this year. Delicate oxeye daisies gave way … Read more.

Past Due! by Dan Christina

It is very hard to believe that a month has passed since my last post, Getting it done.  Even more incredulous are the vast changes the garden has seen since that time. For instance, the … Read more.

GETTYSBURG

I recently visited Gettysburg and found Pardee Field where Bessie’s brother, Ario Pardee, led his men (Pennsylvania 147th) into battle on the 3rd day of the Battle of Gettysburg, July 3rd, 1863.  There is a … Read more.

Finishing touches (and new beginnings)

No garden is ever “done” — perish the thought! — but during planting week/month/season we all race to beat the heat. In the last couple of weeks here at Blithewold we closed in on that … Read more.

Mid-June shout out and product review

I’m jumping the gun on Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day but I can’t let a week like this one go by without crowing about Blithewold’s gardens — especially the Rose and North Gardens. Actually, I’ll let … Read more.

Getting it done.

June is a tricky time for us at Blithewold.  Just when the crowds have started to wane from Spring’s glorious show, summer arrives and a whole new set of eyes are on the property.  Not … Read more.

Let’s call it summer

Usually we can identify what season we’re in by the weather but this May into June has been weirdly crisp and fall-like. (I’m not complaining — it’s lovely. The only downside is that the soil … Read more.

Spinach

I probably could have included this as a footnote in my last post, but I thought it was cool enough to merit at least 100 words. I have been trying out new Spinach varieties this … Read more.

Rollin’ rollin’ rollin’ by Dan Christina

Mulching is the practice of covering bare soil with some sort of substance in order to conserve moisture, reduce or eliminate weed growth, and provide an aesthetically pleasing look to an area.  That’s my definition … Read more.

Marjorie’s Wedding One Hundred Years Ago

This month we are celebrating the hundredth anniversary of Marjorie Van Wickle’s marriage to George Lyon which took place on a beautiful summer’s day at Blithewold on June 1, 1914. At 4 o’clock in the … Read more.