Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold

The Prettiest Poppies

Poppies in Bloom at Blithewold’s Historic Gardens Editor’s Note: This article has been updated with current visiting information for 2026 Every May and June, Blithewold’s gardens are overtaken by one of the most breathtaking floral … Read more.

Poppies Forever

The Shirley poppies (Papaver rhoeas) are one of the most ephemeral and beautiful parts of the gardens. The flowers are here for a day or two and then form seed heads where the soft-as-silk petals … Read more.

Natural companions

I finally bought my very own copy of Ken Druse’s latest book Natural Companions: A Garden Lover’s Guide to Plant Combinations and if you don’t have a copy yet, it’s worth dropping everything else – … Read more.

Virtual bonfire

Summer solstice is a perfect occasion for taking stock of the season so far. We’re at a midpoint – at the start of summer – with a lot to look forward to and plenty to … Read more.

Plants are my favorite people

It was Lilah’s suggestion when she first saw the sea of pink peony poppies (voted Most Flirtatious) in full bloom in the Cutting Garden that I do a Superlatives post. Since I spent high school … Read more.