Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold
Closing the gap
As gaps go, this wasn’t a bad one in my book. Just now I seem to prefer a garden in budded transition – I think it satisfies my need for a glass is half full … Read more.
The May Gap
After the tulips have gone by and before … everything else starts up in the North Garden, we cross The May Gap. It’s almost as if the garden is taking one last deep inhale before … Read more.
Mayflower
Mayflower Viburnum in Bloom at Blithewold in Bristol, Rhode Island Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with current visiting information for 2026 I’m not sure I should admit to how much time I spend … 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.
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.
Oh deer…
Blithewold has been pretty lucky so far. For a while it seemed like there must be an invisible 8′ high barrier encircling the property but in the past couple-three (four?) years the phantom fence has … Read more.
A jump on spring
The weather has been so mild this past week that we couldn’t help but be outside cleaning up – about two weeks ahead of last year. And I know we’re not alone – it seems … Read more.
Heliotropium arborescens
Heliotrope in Blithewold’s Rose Garden in Bristol, Rhode Island Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with current visiting information for 2026 When I first started at Blithewold I wasn’t the biggest fan of heliotrope. … Read more.
More decisions (and a retraction)
Our seed orders have started to come in! I discovered though that I have to offer an official retraction of a snarky complaint in this post about Select Seeds‘ shipping charges. Well, obviously, I … Read more.
New perspective
The entire horticultural staff went to the first of our winter conferences this week. I can really only speak for myself, but I think we get a lot out of these outings. Not only did … Read more.