Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries, Ask Mary Stone, New Jersey Garden blog
A Wood Frog wiht splayed legs swimming in a pond.

Wood Frogs Sing for Spring

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green, To my delight, new frog friends have landed in my pond—Wood Frogs! Their mating sounds sing for spring, inspiring me to revisit Frog Watch USA. Tedor Whitman, Executive Director of the Cora Hartshorn Arboretum (CHA), led a training hosted by G
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pink flowers on a branch in front of a white indoor wall.

Encouraging Indoor Spring Blooms

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. Spring soon arrives, and many are anxious for green with a splash of color. My go-to is harvesting branches of forsythia, but you can also bring other spring-flowering woody plants indoors to encourage early spring blooms. How to Encourage Ear
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a covered footbridge in an early morning snowy scene with foot steps, a slivered moon peaking through hemlock trees,

Welcoming Winter Sights and Silence

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. I have an artful ornament given to me by a lifelong friend. The denim-dressed gardener with flowers on her skirt looks like she’s flying, carrying a pole with dangling garden tools. Like a perennial border decorating a backdrop of trees
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Benefits and Folklore of Dragonflies

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. Dragonflies are fascinating creatures with an unusual lifecycle and folklore to match. Plus, they benefit our gardens by controlling pests—a perfect unfolding. A few weeks ago, I shared a story about the Preservation of the Paulinskill River a
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Mary Stone in a yellow jacket with Jolee in front of Ellie's memorial holly.

Merry Season of Memories

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. Last week’s surprise snow was lovely to wake up to, inspiring outdoor decorating. While doing so, I thought about Christmas memories and created a new season of memories in the galivant. Miss Ellie had learned to flail her tail by the do
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red rose shrub in front of golden dry grasses along Virginia Beach

Thanksgiving Gardens along Virginia Beach

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. As I write, I am overlooking the ocean, enjoying a respite before heading to my sister’s home near Richmond. It’s a treat to spend cherished time with family on Thanksgiving, and I hope you will, too. To my delight, the Thanksgivin
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a collection of a late season harvest of ten, six-inch zucchinis and six green peppers on a countertop.

An Honorable Harvest

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green, Our warm weather anomaly quickly turned into the first hard frost, inspiring the last of the fall harvest. An honorable harvest. A grateful harvest of the gifts from the garden of life. Having had only one zucchini this growing season, despite
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Virginia Beach Sunrise with a silhouette of Mary Stone and her golden retriever Miss Ellie Mae.

Pushing Hands of Peace

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green, Previously, I shared coming upon an arrowhead in Cape May and the importance of leaving artifacts where they are, including the sculptures and books depicting American history. Indeed, while there are shameful times, we can learn and grow from
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Fall-leaf-in-hand

Overview of the Lesson of the Leaf

Hello, fellow lover of all things green. In the spirit of completing my book, I plan to share bits of it going forward. It’s our book, really, as the column and your questions over the last thirteen years have contributed significantly to the mission, and I am so grateful. To fo
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Heart-shaped leaf with droplets of dew

Remember Learn Grow and Love

Hello, fellow lover of all things green, As you may know there’s a podcast version of our weekly chats from the screen porch. Last week, I recorded the episode on 9-11 (link below). The sky was bright blue and the air crisp— much like that day our world changed. The anniversary
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