Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold
Ideal conditions
For the next few weeks Gail and I will plant, divide and move perennials in any kind of weather short of a monsoon-style downpour but we both had to agree that, even though we are … Read more.
Tiptoe through the tulips with me
We scheme and we plan and we cross our fingers and we hope for a succession of blooms and then when everything blooms at once we say “Oh — Wow.” There’s a brilliant carpet of … Read more.
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.
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.
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.
New perspective
The entire horticultural staff went to the first of our winter conferences this week. I can really only speak for myself, but I think we get a lot out of these outings. Not only did … Read more.
Rearranging the furniture
Gail and I look at the North Garden all summer with very critical eyes and every year by this time we’re like discontented apartment dwellers – desperate to clear the clutter and rearrange the furniture. … Read more.
Cutting Garden new year’s day
The William F. and M. Kathleen Church Cutting Garden (I love using its whole name) went full circle yesterday – from spring’s tulips to spring’s tulips. Last Tuesday, after cutting buckets of bouquets from the … Read more.
Fall fling
The gardens were a little soggy yesterday. I could hear the ground actually percolating in places where it wasn’t ankle deep in mud. There’s nothing like a weekend of non-stop rain (the rain gauge overflowed … Read more.
Aerial view
We know a gardener whose most sublime view of her garden is from the bathtub on the second floor of her house. From there she can look down on her borders laid out like blankets … Read more.