Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold

The first daff is the sweetest

A little yellow goes a long way at the beginning of the daffodil season. ‘Little Gem’ in the moongate bed is always the first of our daffs to bloom. (The ones pictured below are an … Read more.

Memory book portraits

The to-do list might be difficult to prioritize right now that everything needs doing, but when the faces all around us look lovely and the light is just right, the best (if not the number … Read more.

Picking up the pace

This spring is feeling exactly like one of those Jack-in-the-box wind-up toys. The crank handle has been winding … winding … winding … winding until just when I gave up really expecting it anymore, it … Read more.

Full swing into spring

Blithewold is chock-a-block full of spring and it just keeps getting better – and by better, I mean springier by the minute. And because the weather is forecast to stay on the cool side, the … Read more.

Being narcissistic

There’s no doubt now that this is the week for narcissists at Blithewold. Even if daffodils aren’t your thing (perish the thought!) you’d have to admit that so many open all at once is a … Read more.

Wherefore art thou?

The daffodils are definitely on their way towards peak and if I had to guess I’d still predict that peak will be perfectly timed during next week’s school vacation. (see below for the latest “daff … Read more.

Early days

We open officially for the season starting tomorrow (!) and the daffodils are just beginning to open up. You know what they say about early birds … and, says me, there’s definitely something to be … Read more.

Ready… set…

Even though the gardens and grounds are open year-round, we try to look our very-extra-best for the official opening of the mansion and the true start to our summer (please let us have spring first!) … Read more.

Spring into winter

Spring took two steps back last night. We didn’t get as much accumulation as predicted but it sure felt like winter. Even the birds, who have been so LOUD lately, observed the snow’s silence this … Read more.

First opportunities

I’m probably not alone in preferring to work indoors whenever it’s cold and wet outside; and in going absolutely bonkers if I can’t get outside whenever the sun is warm and the air is soft … Read more.