Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold
Top 10 plants for 2012
Before Gail and I begin in earnest to plan and order for next year’s gardens I had to spend a little time looking back through the year’s pictures. I always need to jog my memory … Read more.
Gratuitous Friday photos
It’s been another hot, dry week but the gardens are as beautiful as ever. Proof is in the pictures and I just couldn’t resist doing a tiny Garden Bloggers Bloom Day preview since I always … Read more.
Essential plants (part one)
Last year Steve Aitken, the editor of Fine Gardening magazine, sent out a survey inspired by the list of 100 essential country-music songs Johnny Cash shared with his daughter Rosanne. Steve asked for a list … Read more.
Channeling Julie Moir Messervy
She makes garden design look so easy. Last Thursday for the second time in exactly a decade Julie Moir Messervy enraptured the Garden Design Luncheon crowd with her graciousness, easy-going wit, energy, style, and utterly pragmatic approach … Read more.
Harlequin glory bower
Harlequin Glory Bower at Blithewold’s North Garden in Bristol, Rhode Island Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with current visiting information for 2026 One of the most asked about shrubs on the property is … Read more.
Protected: The Prince Chap
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Protected: Peter Pan
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Irene, goodnight
All in all, we were very lucky here. A few trees came down, a bunch of big limbs, and a million-gazillion twigs but nothing extra-precious was lost. There was no damage to any building or … Read more.
First opportunities
I’m probably not alone in preferring to work indoors whenever it’s cold and wet outside; and in going absolutely bonkers if I can’t get outside whenever the sun is warm and the air is soft … Read more.
A good thing
It’s not EVERYDAY that one gets invited to sit in Martha Stewart’s studio audience, but last week a bunch of tickets to the Gardening Show were offered to Blithewold staff. And, honestly now, who wouldn’t … Read more.