Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold
Along the Garden Path
Peak Rose Garden Week! Herb Garden! Tadpoles! An individual rose is beautiful in itself but an abundance of roses is glorious! A rose garden in full bloom can transport one’s spirit to a secret garden enhanced … Read more.
Quiet Thyme
Every garden begins with a dream. For us, the dream for what we now call the Garden of Hope began several years ago. We knew that we wanted to create a garden that would inspire … Read more.
Along the Garden Path
The Flora and Fauna Frenzy of June The transition from May to June signals a frenzy of new flower combinations that gives each garden a completely new look. Ornamental onions (Allium spp.) of all sizes … Read more.
Sweet Spring
I love ornamental onions. I love that they come in so many different sizes and colors. I love that even after their flowers fade most of them hold their shape, making beautiful decorations. Right around … Read more.
A Trip on the Marjorie: Cuba and Jamaica, 1900
In March 1900, Bessie Van Wickle took possession of the new 174-foot yacht that her husband Augustus had commissioned two years earlier. It was built by the Delaware River Iron Shipbuilding and Engine Works in … Read more.
12-Year-Old Marjorie Van Wickle’s Dress, c1895
This pale green child’s dress was worn by Marjorie Van Wickle when she was 12 years old. The dress was made by B. Altman Co., New York. It has a high-waisted lined bodice with a … Read more.
Coming Attractions
May is often a time for celebrations. From weddings to graduations to Memorial Day parties, May can feel like a whirlwind. In the gardens, May begins to settle down by mid-month. Tulips kick off the … Read more.
Trees and Tulips
Spring is a riot for the senses. The birds and toads are singing, the trees are blooming, and the gardens are bursting out of their winter rest. I finally feel like my co-workers and I … Read more.
Halley’s Comet, 1910
On May 26, 1910, Estelle Clements saw Halley’s Comet; she wrote in her diary, “Fine sight of comet in p.m.” It was an historic occasion to which she gave short shrift, going on to write … Read more.
Exuberant April!
Daffodils are here and they were worth the (long!) wait. The grand view through the Bosquet is really stunning right now. In this big beautiful sea of daffodils there are numerous varieties. Over the past … Read more.