BARBARA GEE
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Press Release for Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum

Gardens Open for Blithewold
in Rhode Island’s glorious East Greenwich, Cowesett
and North Kingstown
~~~

Friday and Saturday, May 31st and June 1st herald the fourth annual and much-anticipated private garden tour - GARDENS OPEN FOR BLITHEWOLD. This year the tour will feature glorious gardens in East Greenwich, Cowesett and North Kingstown - all nearby neighbors to Newport. These distinguished private gardens, never seen by the public, are resplendent with rhododendron, azaleas, lilacs, irises, and spring wildflowers, which reach their peak at this time of the year. In many you will find astonishing water views, inspiring perennial borders, intriguing designs, handsome stone walls, orchards, and even waterfalls.

These old Rhode Island communities are a joy to roam around, even without the gardens, but the gardens offered this year provide a unique opportunity to see estates and private properties that many will never get to see and may not be offered again. One of these, an old farm on land that stretches over more than 150 acres to the banks of the river Potowmut, has been in the same family since the early 1600's. History lives on here in the beautiful trails, out-buildings, orchard and river views.

Further into the tour are two adjacent gardens that offer very different experiences - one is home to a marvelous array of Rhode Island wild plants while the neighboring garden is home to a number of specifically designed backyard habitats that attract a huge number of birds, bees and butterflies. The two complement each other and promise an education about Rhode Island’s rich wild-life both plant and animal.

A lovely addition to this tour is a visit to one of Rhode Island’s premiere garden centers, Wildwood Nurseries, on Frenchtown Road. 10% of all purchases made by tour-goers will be donated to Blithewold. Just present your ticket.

GARDENS OPEN FOR BLITHEWOLD is designed to benefit Blithewold Mansion, Gardens & Arboretum, a 100-year-old 45-room mansion surrounded by 33 acres of botanical grandeur with expansive views of Narragansett Bay and Bristol Harbor, located in Bristol, Rhode Island.
Numbers are limited so sign up early. Advance ticket prices for Blithewold members is $20 and for non-members $25. Tickets are $30 the day of the event. For more information, or tickets, contact Blithewold at 401-253-2707 or visit the website at www.Blithewold.org.

March 25, 2002


Shelly Freierman
Editor, Circuits
The New York Times
229 West 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036

Re: Gardens Open for Blithewold

Dear Shelly:

As always, the exposure Blithewold receives in The New York Times is unparalleled in terms of the number of out-of-town people it brings to the tours. They are always thrilled to see their “name in print” so to speak.

Here’s hoping for another year on the pages of the paper - if our luck holds out.

Thank you for all the attention you always give to these events.

Warm regards,