Blithewold
located in Bristol, Rhode Island
This is a very popular estate in New England to visit and besides the historical 45-room English style stone mansion there are a dozen different formal gardens and an arboretum for visitors to enjoy that span over 30 acres. The original mansion can trace its history back to 1890s when it was a summer retreat for Augustus and Bessie Van Wickle. Named Blithewold, it referred to the Old English phrase for "happy woodland". Unfortunately, it was destroyed by fire in 1906 but it was later rebuilt in the current English Country Manor style. John De Wolf, who was a landscape architect and superintended of NY Parks helped greatly with the creation of the surrounding garden areas.
The garden portion of the estate includes numerous areas of interest for visitors. From the 10 acre Great Lawn, with its views of the bay and many different trees and shrubs, you can visit the Rock Garden, Water Garden (with a pond, stone bridge, ferns, perennials, Japanese maples, cherries, and a weeping willow), Rose Garden (with featuring a Centarian Chestnut Rose alongside heliotrope, lavender and daylilies), the North Garden with curved pathways and Summerhouse, the Enclosed Garden, Bosquet (currrently under restoration) and Display Gardens (which is a "working garden" providing cuttings and vegetables, and is next to an enormous Bamboo Grove).
Currently there are over 3000 trees and shrubs in the collection. The Lord & Burnham Greenhouse has recently been restored and is now open. Blithewold is available for rental for weddings and other occasions. Ceremonies take place in the North Garden and the receptions are held in a special Wedding Tent erected in the Linden Garden for such events - it can accommodate up to 225 guests. Renting out the estate actually reserves the entire mansion and gardens for your party, which can be rather nice as opposed to most public gardens which remain open to the public. Contact the gardens for more info.
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Address:
101 Ferry Road
Bristol, RI 02809
Hours & Times:
Year Round:
Oct 28-May 15: 10am-5pm
Rest of year: 10am-4pm
Admission:
Members: Free
Adults: $10.00
Seniors/Full-time Students: $8.00
Children (16 and under): Free
Phone:
(401) 253-2707
Visit the Official Website
101 Ferry Road
Bristol, RI 02809
Hours & Times:
Year Round:
Oct 28-May 15: 10am-5pm
Rest of year: 10am-4pm
Admission:
Members: Free
Adults: $10.00
Seniors/Full-time Students: $8.00
Children (16 and under): Free
Phone:
(401) 253-2707
Visit the Official Website
Gardens To See provides the latest travel and tourist information for public and private gardens around the world, but it is subject to change and difficult to maintain. If you have further information or pictures you would like to add, contact us.
Please make sure to call the garden in advance to check for changes in times and availablity. Some gardens have seasonal hours only.
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