Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold

BRISTOL NEWS, MARCH 1, 1897

BRISTOL NEWS, MARCH 1, 1897 by Margaret Whitehead One hundred and twenty years ago, on March 1, 1897, Marjorie Van Wickle was at the Jekyll Island Club in Brunswick, Georgia, with her parents Augustus and … Read more.

Seeds!

Winter is time for seeds (yes, it’s still winter, although recent temperatures seem to tell a different story).  We look over catalogs, order, and eventually sow these beautiful tiny cases full of life.  Watching the … Read more.

Some flowers for you

In honor of Valentine’s Day, here are some flowers blooming in the Blithewold greenhouses.  No long-stem red roses for us.  We take great joy in our unusual winter-blooming plants.  I hope they bring a smile … Read more.

A Year in Review: Faves of 2016

February is a wonderful month for planning.  It’s chilly outside, but warm in the Potting Shed and greenhouse where we hunker down for the winter.  The greenhouses are stuffed full with plants and our brains are … Read more.

February 1917 – Preparation for War

February 3, 1917, had dawned cold and miserable in Boston. The thermometer hovered around zero and there was a biting wind. It was a day to stay home. Bessie McKee and her companion Estelle Clements … Read more.

Downtime at Blithewold?

The decorations have all been taken down, the Christmas trees are back in the basement, and the rooms at Blithewold look bare and forlorn, with only odd bits of leaves and glitter on the floor … Read more.

Wreath Season

I love the festive decorations that appear in December.  A pretty evergreen wreath on the front door is a classic welcome during the holiday season.  In preparation for our wreath classes last week, Gail and … Read more.

Happy Birthday, Augustus

Now that our Christmas and New Year’s celebrations have slipped into the past, we want to pause to honor our founder, Augustus Van Wickle, who was born on January 4, 1856. In January of 1883 … Read more.

A Very Merry Christmas

                Blithewold has thrown open its doors for the Christmas season, bringing the excitement of the season to all its visitors.  After you have toured the elegantly decorated Mansion, soaking up the festive atmosphere  within … Read more.

Pretty Leaves to Christmas Trees

The past couple of weeks Gail and I have had our attention divided between fall garden cleanup and Christmas decorating.  Despite the drought this past summer, the trees have still managed to show a good … Read more.