Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold
October Opportunities
It is a magical time in the gardens now, with the weather turning cooler and flowering annuals – cup-and-saucer vine (Cobaea scandens), black-eyed susan vine (Thunbergia alata ‘Yellow’) and white cypress vine (Ipomoea quamoclit) – … Read more.
September’s Seasonal Celebration
Sunny September days are my absolute favorite. Gail and I are constantly talking about how much we love this month. The gardens are glorious, the weather is very close to perfect, and we (try) to … Read more.
Sound Therapy
An August garden has a unique set of sounds that I look forward to every year. Although I love the quietude of a garden, August’s ensemble of nature’s sounds is a comforting reminder that flora … Read more.
Midsummer Magic
I have been overwhelmed with the gardens this week. “Overwhelmed” is a word often given a negative connotation in today’s language. The word originally comes from Middle English with the meaning “to turn upside down.” … Read more.
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.
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.
Dreamy dahlias
Happy autumn! The light shifts and the nights get cooler, but there is still so much color here in the gardens. A lot of that color comes from dahlias and sages (Salvia spp.), which are … Read more.
Gone to Seed
While the light changes and we keep up with the last deadheading of the season, seeds begin to appear in the garden. They are everywhere, in every shape and size. Each plant has its own … Read more.
Charmed
August is exhausting, it has to be said. The extreme heat and humidity drains every desire I have to linger in the garden. It seems as though, here in little Rhode Island, everyone and their … Read more.
The News
I love new plants. It always feels a little bit like Christmas morning when I see a new plant come into flower for the first time–except I have to be patient as it unwraps itself. … Read more.
- Newer Entries
- Older Entries