Name of Garden:
Blithewold Garden
History and Description:
Blithewold, located in Bristol, RI, is 33 acres of lawns, gardens, specimen trees, and historic stone structures. Walking the grounds, you may be drawn to the cool shade of the Bosquet ("enclosed woodland"), enjoy the solitude of the Water Garden, absorb the history of the Enclosed Garden, or be dazzled by the abundance of the Display Gardens. You'll surely notice the sweeping 10-acre Great Lawn and views to Narragansett Bay-the perfect setting for over 300 different kinds of trees and shrubs.
Taking full advantage of the stunning water views and country setting, Landscape Architect John De Wolf designed the landscape starting in the early 1900s in an informal style with touches of formal elements. When walking the grounds today, you will be drawn in by the marriage of historic and modern gardening.
In August 1926, Ernest "Chinese" Wilson and Alfred Rehder visited Blithewold and to the owners' delight these eminent plantsmen from the Arnold Arboretum were awestruck by the variety of plants they found. In a letter to her daughter about the visit, Bessie Van Wickle McKee wrote, "They were frankly amazed to find so lovely and interesting place here and kept saying, 'Why you have. an arboretum here; we never dreamed there was a place like this'."
The Great Lawn sets the stage for all the surrounding gardens:
- the Rock Garden located within yards of the shore;
- the more formal North Garden whose lush, deep borders are the background for weddings and other social functions;
- the Rose Garden where a centenarian Chestnut Rose dominates;
- the Enclosed Garden with its undulating lawn, curved pathways, and Summerhouse that looks out on one of the tallest Giant Sequoias on the east coast;
- and finally the gravel lane, once the service road to the dock, is yet another shaded, leafy walk to the Bay.
Address:
Blithewold Mansion
Gardens & Arboretum
101 Ferry Road (Rt. 114)
Bristol, Rhode Island 02809 Phone: (401) 253-2707
FAX: (401) 253-0412
E-mail: info@blithewold.org
Directions:
Blithewold is located mid-way between Newport, RI and Providence, RI.
From Newport
Take Rt. 114 North through Middletown and Portsmouth. Cross the Mt. Hope Bridge to enter Bristol, and bear left at fork onto Rt. 114 (Ferry Road). Blithewold is 1/4 mile on the left.
From Providence (through the East Bay)
Take Exit 7 off Interstate 195. Follow Rt. 114 South for approximately 13 1/2 miles through Barrington, Warren and downtown Bristol. Blithewold is located on Rt. 114 on the right.
Hours:
The grounds and gardens are open year-round, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, with admission.
Admission:
Members: Free
Adults: $10.00
Seniors/Full-time Students: $8.00
Children aged 16 and under: Free
Website:
http://www.blithewold.org/
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