Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold

Covering ground

One of the most frequently asked questions lately is “what is that pretty groundcover that’s … everywhere?” Some people seem to ask the question with the “I want that” eye twinkle. (You don’t really want … Read more.

Mayflower

I’m not sure I should admit to how much time I spend thinking about my own garden while I’m working in this one. I can’t help but distractedly eyeball all of the plants that I … Read more.

Ideal conditions

For the next few weeks Gail and I will plant, divide and move perennials in any kind of weather short of a monsoon-style downpour but we both had to agree that, even though we are … Read more.

Working overtime

The landscape is changing before our very eyes. Plants have taken advantage of the recent heatwavelet to push out leaves, flowers and seeds like it’s their job and they’re putting in for overtime. I’m astonished … Read more.

Tiptoe through the tulips with me

We scheme and we plan and we cross our fingers and we hope for a succession of blooms and then when everything blooms at once we say “Oh — Wow.”  There’s a brilliant carpet of … Read more.

Stellar weekend

Hey, what’s that thing up there that’s all bright and making me feel kind of warmish? Could it be…? No… I don’t believe it. Yes – it’s true – the sun’s out! Yesterday’s gale dried … Read more.

It just keeps getting better

Last night’s rain may have made a few of the daffodils face-plant but it brought out that delicious fragrance of spring that put the visual beauty almost in the background.  Almost.  I would have closed … Read more.

Reward after taxes

Whether you just filed last night or spent your refund check on groceries weeks ago, you deserve to treat yourself to another thing in life (besides death, heaven forbid!) that’s certain:  Thousands of daffodils blooming … Read more.

Dilly Dally

The past couple of days have been on the brutally chilly side but I’ve seen quite a few bundled up people lingering on the grounds anyway.  The reward is that spring is dallying while it … Read more.

En route

Last weekend it seemed like a switch had been flipped and the dinge of winter was replaced by bright emerald – at least underfoot.  And the dimmer-switch of daffodils, forsythia and other harbingers of spring … Read more.