Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold
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.
On the coir bandwagon
When Fred (Blithewold’s dir. of hort.) suggested that Gail and I start making our own potting soil, we were totally game. We had already started looking into alternatives to our peat based mixes and were … 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.
Mid-March bloom day
Many thanks as always to Carol at May Dreams Gardens for thinking up and hosting a monthly blooming show and tell. I’m a little late to the Ides of March party but it’s a blow-out. … Read more.
Emerge
Take a pretty close look right about now and you’ll see it everywhere – spring is just poking it’s head out of the ground. The daffodils are 4 or 5 inches tall in some places, … Read more.
Snowed in spring
When I made my winter vacation request for last week I asked the universe for extra warm weather so that I could get a jump on spring. It snowed instead. But it really didn’t matter … Read more.
Force it
Anyone who has ever been to a flower show in February or March knows that the exhibitors work very hard to manipulate the seasons. We’re all so ready by now for winter’s end – especially … Read more.
Sow chilly
I’ve gone soft. The thaw we had a couple of weeks ago has totally ruined me for the rest of winter. I can’t go outside in the freeze anymore without complaining every bit as bitterly … Read more.
Heliotropium arborescens
When I first started at Blithewold I wasn’t the biggest fan of heliotrope. It’s been a Rose Garden staple since way before my time, and I developed an almost instant aversion to it. I found … 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.