Last Friday, my mom and I went to visit Blithewold Mansion & Arboretum in Bristol, RI. The current home was built in 1908 after the first was destroyed by fire. Blithewold Mansion was designed after an English country manor. I wish I could have taken pictures inside because it is by far one of the most livable of the Rhode Island mansions. The ones in Newport are so extravagant with gold gilded ceilings and painted murals it is hard to believe someone once lived there. This one was designed with rest and relaxing in mind. When you walk into the house you are greeted by that view of the great lawn out to the water.The grounds have be designed with a park-like setting in mind with hundreds of specimen trees and plants. Also on the property is a green house, a cutting garden, display gardens and a large grove of bamboo that was originally planted to provide stakes for the gardens.
