Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries, Ask Mary Stone, New Jersey Garden blog
Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Garden Blog,Northern New Jersey Landscape Designer, Houseplants in Duress

Houseplants in Duress Turn Happy

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green, Some of my houseplants are desperate. The low humidity of the heated house has wreaked havoc. Plus, some of their pots are too tight, like my pants after the holidays. Thank goodness for stretchy jeans. Even if there were stretchy pots, the la
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Garden Blog,Northern New Jersey Landscape Designer,Salix matsudana 'Tortuosa', Curly Willow

Rooting and Planting Willow Branches

Hello fellow readers, Gloria from Columbia, NJ, wrote in part two of an inquiry she made back in September about rooting a branch from a “curly willow bush” used as part of her daughter’s wedding centerpieces in 2008. She wishes to start a baby willow to give to her
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Beloved Birch

Hello fellow readers, I’ve been accused of being a birch lover, and it’s true. In fact, their glorious bark and see-through leaves have earned them beloved birch status as one of my favorite trees. Last week we spoke about the trees tolerant of wet conditions that The Natu
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Note-to-Self: Look Up!

Nature’s inspirations are sometimes seen looking up! I took this photo on December 18, 2015 from the side of the road; Cobblewood  Road, Blairstown to be specific. As a result of stumbling upon this puffy treat I made a note-to-self : Never overlook looking up!
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Garden Blog,Northern New Jersey Landscape Designer, Birch Trees, Yellow Birch, Red Maple, Sycamore, Pin Oak, Black Willow, Sweetgum, Swamp White Oak, Flood tolerant Trees

Preservation of the Paulinskill River

Hello fellow readers, If I may share the story of how I learned about activities to help the Preservation of the Paulinskill River. A friend from Stillwater stumped me when he asked what the plastic tubes are along routes 80 and 94. The plastic thingies look like tree tubes of sorts,
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White barked birch with black markings that look like a smile.

The Beauty of Now

Hello fellow readers, It occurs to me when we are young, entering adulthood, we are in a stage of growing and gathering. Typically choosing a partner, thereby adding an extended family. Pursuing a career, nesting in a home, maybe having children. When young, we tend to look forward ra
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A collection of heart-shaped Bill's stones

The Story of Bill’s Stones

Hello, fellow readers, The Press takes a hiatus between Christmas and New Year’s, so I don’t have a weekly column to share. But I’d like to share the story of Bill’s stones with you, my faithful online readers. One of my most frequented meditative walks is clim
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Garden Blog, African Violets, Saintpaulias, Frozen in Time

Frozen in Time African Violets

Hello fellow readers, “You can’t water their faces,” recalls brother Rick, one of Mom’s instructions on caring for African violets, as water on their leaves can cause spotting damage. Mom had quite a collection of violets when we were kids. As I write, we are v
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Garden Blog, Resilience, Resilience, Catfish Pond NJ

Resilience

Hello fellow readers, I’ve become a street walker – one of those folks seen waving to cars driving by. Which isn’t a bad thing; it’s polite to acknowledge each other and a smile and wave may help lift someone’s spirits. Often times yourself. It’s amazing how ev
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Garden Blog,Winter Weather Predictions, Woolly Bear Caterpillar

Winter Folklore & Weather Predictions 2015 / 2016

Hello fellow readers, There are oodles of folklore on winter weather predictions. Plentiful acorns, thick corn husks, squirrels gathering nuts early, crickets in the chimney, halos around the moon, early rodent infestation or bird migration, when pigs eat sticks, and my favorite – nar
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