Blithewold Mansion, Gardens and Arboretum

Mansion

The mansion was built in Queen Anne style in 1895, then rebuilt in 1906 as Blithewold II after being destroyed by fire. The slow-moving fire within the walls could not be extinguished, but much of the furnishings and other objects were able to be removed from the house. Blithewold II was designed in English Country Manor style by Walter Kilham of Kilham & Hopkins, Boston. In 1936 Marjorie Van Wickle Lyon inherited Blithewold, where she lived until her death in 1976 at the age of 93. By her bequest, ownership of Blithewold passed to the Heritage Foundation of Rhode Island (later known as the Heritage Trust of Rhode Island).

Since 1978 the house has been open as a public museum, restored to its appearance circa 1910, with an extensive collection of the Van Wickle's personal possessions, including furniture, decorative arts, letters and other writings, Marjorie's original watercolors, and an extensive collection and display of women's dresses and other costumes of the period.

Grounds

Today's grounds are primarily the design of John DeWolf, and date between 1896 and 1913. The property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Blithewold's grounds include species from North America, Europe, China and Japan. Specimen trees include magnolia (Magnolia spp.), linden (Tilia spp.), Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), black tupelo (Nyssa sylvatica), Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostroboides), Franklinia (Franklinia alatamaha), Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), various oaks (Quercus spp.) and beeches (Fagus spp.). Other notable trees include a weeping Pagoda Tree (Styphnolobium japonicum 'Pendula'), Hiba (Thujopsis dolabrata), Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum), and Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica). The grounds also include English Yews (Taxus baccata) and Eastern Junipers (Juniperus virginiana), as well as what is claimed to be the largest Giant Sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) on the East Coast, and currently about 100 ft tall. The Sequoia was planted ca. 1930.

Blithewold is home to at least two Rhode Island Champion Trees, including a Sargent’s Weeping Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis ‘Sargentii’, planted ca. 1920) and a Silver Fir (Abies alba, planted ca. 1911).

Blithewold's Bamboo Grove covers an area nearly the size of a tennis court, and is planted with Phyllostachys aureosulcata, the Yellow-groove bamboo, which grows to 10 m tall.

Blithewold has maintained contacts with the Arnold Arboretum ever since 1926, when staff botanists visited Blithewold to see the Chinese toon tree (Toona sinensis) in flower for what was believed to be the first time in the United States.

Gallery

Blithewold front, Bristol, Rhode Island.jpg|Front of the mansion. Fireplace - Blithewold Mansion - Bristol, RI - PXL 20230504 162618483.jpg|Fireplace and seating area. Study - Blithewold Mansion - Bristol, RI - PXL 20230504 163610608.jpg|The Study. Summerhouse - Blithewold Mansion - Bristol, RI - PXL 20230504 145702293.jpg|Summerhouse. Greenhouse - Blithewold Mansion - Bristol, RI - PXL 20230504 170309247.jpg|Greenhouse. Tulip - Blithewold Mansion - Bristol, RI - PXL 20230504 171924260.jpg|Tulip, one of the many species in the gardens. Woods - Blithewold Mansion - Bristol, RI - PXL 20230504 164602794.jpg|A variety of trees at the estate. Bamboo - Blithewold Mansion - Bristol, RI - PXL 20230504 145909448.jpg|Bamboo section.

References

References

1. {{NRISref. 2006a
2. "Blithewold {{!}} Blithewold. An American Garden Treasure. Come And Be Inspired.".
3. "Marjorie Randolph van Wickle Lyon - 1883 {{pipe".
4. "NRHP nomination for Blithewold". Rhode Island Preservation.
5. "Notable Trees".