East Passages
By horticulturist, Leita Lord For those visiting southern Rhode Island mid-summer, the recurrent displays of hydrangeas are a major attention grabber. There are few flowering bushes that put on such a dramatic show! From large white, blue, pink and purple globes to pillowy pale green pyramids and blue lace-like flowers, Castle Hill Inn has many
by Leita Lord, Horticulturist All plants have a purpose, and many include beneficial traits for human health. In the new Healing Garden at Castle Hill Inn we are highlighting a few of my favorite plant allies. From the vitamin C rich Rose hips, to the wound-healing “warrior’s herb”, we are cultivating beautiful medicinal flowers and
We know we are not the only ones to take solace in nature and gardening during this time of uncertainty and waylaid plans. We also know that, when you are at Castle Hill and surrounded of course by beautiful things, it is the natural landscape and seascape that will forever win the day! Blessed as
Early autumn is one of the most beautiful times of year in Rhode Island. The days are often warm, with a cool breeze and cozy nights. The humidity of summer has moved on, along with many of the crowds, and those who remain are making the most of the nice weather and quieter surrounds. Local
Since every day is ‘Earth Day’ in my book, I’d like to take a moment to highlight some of the efforts we are making in the Castle Hill Culinary Garden to be environmentally friendly and use sustainable techniques. Castle Hill Inn has been implementing new “green” strategies each year. I am happy to be a
Remember the greenhouse image from the June blog post? Well, just look at how the garden has grown! From June to July is one of the biggest growth spurts in the Culinary Garden. Many of the plants have doubled in size and beds are looking full! July is the month of Hydrangeas blooming, Nasturtiums spilling
The Culinary Garden at Castle Hill Inn is growing! This year we are going from six raised beds to eleven, and the greenhouse has doubled in size. This expansion is very exciting to me, and I know my enthusiasm is shared by the culinary team, who will now have even more fresh produce grown on
Autumn is a special time in New England. The cooler temperatures and shorter days set in motion a scene change from green-washed surrounds to a new pallet of oranges, yellows, reds and umbers. Here, in Newport, we get to experience the full display of this transitional season. From the fall foliage and unique autumnal blooms,
At Castle Hill the ‘Autumn Joy’ sedum has started to bloom, the rose of Sharon is at its peak, the very first leaves are beginning to turn… and the deer have begun eating our Swiss chard and kale! It must be September. The dry weather that persisted through the second half of August and into
August has arrived, and with it comes a whole new host of veggies from our culinary garden: tri-colored beans, gold and purple beets, cilantro flowers, cucumbers, and tie-die carrots to name a few. The “purple haze” carrots are harvested young before they turn fully purple, giving them their distinct tie-die coloration. The golden beets also