Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold

APRIL 1904 – ROME, FLORENCE, PARIS

Marjorie’s European Tour, 1903‐1904 Taken from letters to her mother, Bessie Marjorie and Helen Macartnay spent the last few weeks of their 11‐month tour in Rome, Florence, and Paris. Marjorie was looking forward to seeing … Read more.

Cue Spring!

Everybody has a different cue for letting ourselves admit that it’s finally spring. For some of us (me), spring officially begins when we sow the sweet peas (back around President’s Day). Others might notice spring … Read more.

Spring is out of order

Which isn’t to say that anything is broken, in need of fixing. I just don’t ever remember magnolias blooming before the forsythia. Saucer magnolias are out all over town, our hedge of M. x loebneri … Read more.

Unpredictable

Yesterday a reporter from one of the local papers called to ask about the daffodils. She wondered when they would bloom; are they early; how long would they last; and what comes next? A very … Read more.

MARCH 1904 – SOUTHERN ITALY

Marjorie’s European Tour, 1903-1904 Taken from letters to her mother, Bessie MARCH   1904 – SOUTHERN ITALY Aboard the luxurious steamer ‘Cairo’ Marjorie and Miss Helen were able to relax and prepare themselves for the transition … Read more.

Getting a move on

I can’t think of a better way to spend a record-breaking official first day of spring than playing musical plants out in the garden. At home I move plants around usually because I didn’t put … Read more.

Mid-March bloom report

As we get closer to Daffodil Days here at Blithewold I keep expecting to be asked for a tally of how many are in bloom. I’m ready for it. Today there are 3 daffodils in … Read more.

Good for you

Yesterday was the kind of day that made me feel very sorry for anyone stuck indoors. High 60s, sunny blue sky, birds singing, bees buzzing: Exactly the kind of short-sleeves day we all desperately crave … Read more.

Breaking

I know I’m going to start sounding like a broken record but I can’t help going on about how early everything is. I looked up the other day when I was walking my dog and … Read more.

Write it down

All of the advice you ever read about sowing seeds includes a suggestion to keep a record of what you’ve sown when. I’m pretty sure my head would explode if we didn’t keep track. We … Read more.