Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold

Wild observations

Friday, July 12, 2013 | by Kris Green

It’s a wild world. And it seems like it has been getting wilder and wilder over the last few weeks. Or maybe, now that the garden has grown up into its teenage phase, I’m just … Read more.

This past winter was a rough one for honey bees. Word is, across the country about a third of the population didn’t make it though. Blithewold’s beekeeper, Brendan Kennedy lost most of his hives including … Read more.

It’s a bug-eat-bug greenhouse

Friday, March 29, 2013 | by Kris Green

Gail and I have talked about using biological controls (getting “good bugs” to eat the “bad bugs” that eat the plants) in the greenhouse but aside from trying to not crash through spider webs on … Read more.

Bee School (part 1)

Tuesday, February 19, 2013 | by Kris Green

The first thing I learned in bee school is that more people are interested in keeping bees than I would have thought. In the 2 classes held at RIC there are over 100 people enrolled. … Read more.

Everything is connected

Tuesday, October 9, 2012 | by Kris Green

Last Friday, after a mostly rainy-drizzly week, Gail and I spent part of a fog-burnt morning surfing the interwebs in the Display Garden. I know spiders are busy this time of year because I have … Read more.

Migrations

Monday, September 24, 2012 | by Kris Green

Whole days go by now between hummingbird sightings and I just stood in the Display Garden with my camera poised for a good 15 minutes waiting to catch a glimpse of a monarch. They’re few … Read more.

Deadheads in the garden

Tuesday, September 11, 2012 | by Kris Green

Our Tuesday volunteer group has been known for years — for ever? — as the “Deadheads” because they work in the Display Garden and traditionally, the biggest summer chore in these gardens has been to … Read more.

The awesomeness of agastache

Friday, August 24, 2012 | by Kris Green

I am as fickle as any gardener. I’ll pick a new favorite color, fragrance, leaf, flower, and plant habit every other week (or day) and reserve the right to change my mind over the slightest … Read more.

Live and let live

Friday, July 20, 2012 | by Kris Green

I’ve gotten a couple of questions in the last week or two about what we do in the gardens to manage pests and diseases. Although a lot of you already know the answer, I don’t … Read more.

Bonus days

Tuesday, November 29, 2011 | by Kris Green

Fall is dragging its feet getting into winter and although some people and plants I know are ready for it to be cold, it couldn’t be a sweeter treat for us gardeners. We’ve been braced … Read more.