Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold

Prune it up

I am really excited to introduce my fellow horticulturist, Betsy Ekholm to the blogosphere. Betsy started working with Gail and me in 2013 as our gardens intern and we couldn’t let her go. Had to … Read more.

A-May-zing

It’s not often anymore that my posts fall on Garden Bloggers Bloom Day and I’m thrilled for the excuse to post endless pictures of what’s happening on the grounds right now. The daffodils have pretty … Read more.

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.

A rabbit’s eye view with Noel Kingsbury

We are so lucky that yesterday’s rain held off just long enough to take a ground-level tour of Blithewold’s gardens with British garden designer/plantsman/author, Noel Kingsbury. He showed us, plant by plant, exactly what to look … Read more.

Fall idyll

Back when I first started here at Blithewold I remember Gail saying that fall was her favorite season. As a perennial lover of spring I thought that was a little strange and it made me … Read more.

Constructive criticism

Our to-do list in September is blissfully short. The gardens are as lush as can be and just need to be coaxed along until frost or until we’re ready to start moving plants around (musical … Read more.

So glad about summer bulbs

If this had been a “normal” summer (is there any such thing?) by now we would probably be feeling beat by the heat. The gardens might have started to look sun scorched, faded, and dusty … Read more.

On formality and fine tuning

Mother Nature dumped almost three more inches of rain on Blithewold this week and the gardens responded by growing with an exuberance bordering on, and even crossing over the line to loose, lush informality. I … 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.

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.