Thoughtful musings on various topics by interesting people at Blithewold

Early summer perennials

It’s been really hard for me and other people I’ve talked to not to lament that the summer is flying by. There just doesn’t seem like there’s going to be time to take it all … Read more.

Newport Flower Show

I believe every day is a flower show but an honest-to-goodness Flower Show like the one at Rosecliff in Newport this weekend is a true extravaganza of floriferousness. And I’m not just saying that because … Read more.

Early summer annuals

Today is the official start of summer (Happy Solstice!) but we have been celebrating the season for weeks now. Everybody around here calls it summer when sailboats fill the harbor and beaches start charging for … Read more.

When it rains, it pours

I would never complain about getting rain when we need it but almost every week for the last few we’ve lost at least one day with our volunteers. It has interfered with our planting schedule and … Read more.

Rain delay

This week we had every intention of planting another big batch of seed annuals in the Display Garden but the weather had other things in mind for us. It insisted that we take the time … Read more.

An argument for roses

I have heard that there are gardeners in the world who don’t love roses and I think I can almost understand why. For starters, they’re pretty common and might not appeal to gardeners who prefer … Read more.

JUNE 1903 — On board the Deutschland, and Paris

Marjorie’s European Tour, 1903-1904 Taken from letters to her mother, Bessie JUNE 1903  —  On board the Deutschland,  and Paris On June 4, 1903, nineteen-year-old Marjorie Van Wickle set sail from New York on board … Read more.