Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold
Cranborne Manor, Dorset, England
Blithewold Mansion was built in 1907 on the site of an earlier house which burned in the summer of 1906. The new house was designed in an English Country Manor style. It has often been … Read more.
Scratch N’ Sniff
With Autumn just around the bend, there will be many beautiful sights and sounds. The rainbow color change of the leaves. The crunch of fallen foliage under one’s foot. But right now, I’m leaning into this … Read more.
The light is changing, but the heat isn’t
Hello again gardeners and garden admirers! It’s Betsy here. Just wanted to reintroduce myself and say that it’s a pleasure to be updating you on the state of the gardens. Labor day has … Read more.
Taking off
I freely admit that when we moved the Pollinator Garden this spring to its new location at the top of the meadow west of the vegetable garden I didn’t have high hopes for it to … Read more.
Lily days
Lily has to be one of the most overused descriptors in horticulture. Go figure, given how aptly it defines so many flowers: the word itself has a trumpeting flare and and if I use my imagination, a sweet fragrance too… … Read more.
North Garden inventory
I’m asked often enough to name my favorite plant and season that it’s a little strange that hardly anyone* ever asks which is my favorite garden. Not that I could possibly pick a favorite (the pollinator garden). But since I … Read more.
Rose Garden inventory
Thank goodness for rainy days. Without them, we stay outside and never get around to tidying the potting shed, defrosting the fridge, or keeping up with the paperwork. (Not to mention how happy the gardens are after a … Read more.
Prune it up
I am really excited to introduce my fellow horticulturist, Betsy Ekholm to the blogosphere. Betsy started working with Gail and me in 2013 as our gardens intern and we couldn’t let her go. Had to … Read more.
Transition into summer
The to-plant list is getting shorter and we are beginning to transition into a summer-full of deadheading/staking/weeding/enjoying. Right on schedule too: we always aim to be *done by July 4th. (*No garden is ever done.) This week … Read more.
The longest days
June is full to bursting. Every plant that isn’t already blooming to beat the band is growing gangbusters (weeds included), and to say there’s a lot to do would be the understatement of the season.The long days leading up … Read more.