Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries, Ask Mary Stone, New Jersey Garden blog
a crayon drawing of children holding hands

Thanks for Giving Thanks

Hello Fellow Readers, Thanksgiving is a time to gather and reflect on gifts we are grateful for. Versions of the holiday are celebrated at different times of the year by other countries too. While most folks consider it a secular holiday (not based on religion), most religions offer p
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Heart-shaped leaf with droplets of dew

Droplets of Love

On a walk in the woods in mediation and reflection of the week gone by, I came across this leaf. To me a symbol of love. I was with my Mom last week and as many of you know, she is failing. I thought it was “her time” the nursing care facility warned prior to my 8-hour dri
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Garden Blog, Queen Anne's Lace,Daucus carota, Wild Carrot

Queen Anne’s Lace Anomaly

Hello fellow readers, While on a road walk with Miss Ellie, I saw a pinkish Queen Anne’s Lace flower with dark magenta edges on a plant where all the other flowers were the customary cream. What a gorgeous anomaly! It reminded me of grade school when we’d cut Queen Anne
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Garden Blog

Good Morning Sunshine!

This is the view I enjoyed this morning after the last few days of heavy rain, heat and humidity. Glorious Rays of Sunshine! So grateful…
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Garden Blog, 4H, NJ State Fair

The History of 4-H

Hello fellow readers, Last week wrapped up the 75th annual NJ State Fair held at the Sussex County Fairgrounds in Augusta. In addition to the display gardens we were part of, there were rides, vendors, and food galore; largely not healthful but part of the fun. Best of all was the far
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Ruth Ratcliff, Bumble Bee, Bee Balm, Monarda

Ruth’s Attraction

My dear friend Ruth shared this photo and Happy Bumble Bee Video of her newly acquired Monarda commonly called Bee Balm and for good reason; it’s a Bee Magnet! By the way, Ruth is incredibly attractive too. And, her gardening fortitude and talents tends to make the rest of us lo
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design,New Jersey Landscape Designer, Comfort Zone Camp

Flower Power !

Hello Fellow Readers, A week ago, I was readying for my first time volunteering at Comfort Zone Camp (CZC) held right next door in Hardwick, NJ. “Comfort Zone Camp is a nonprofit bereavement camp that transforms the lives of children who have experienced the loss of a parent, si
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Daffodils

A daffy sunset

Curt snagged this shot of the rock garden with his phone on Saturday. If I recall the plant I planted in front of the daffodils is Spiraea japonica ‘Golden Elf’ / Golden Elf Japanese Spirea Hardy in zones 4-9. This yellow leaved cutie only grows to 6-8 inches high and has
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone, Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, overwinter parsley

Parsley Surprise

I finally finished my Fall cleanup. I know, it’s Spring. But you know how things get away from you; then the snow came and covered the evidence of my garden neglect. Look what I uncovered – my Parsley made a comeback! I’m tickled pink. (Not sure why tickling makes you pink… or w
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone, Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, April Fools Day

an April Fool’s Day Delight

Mother Nature delivered this gift on April 1st! It melted quickly, but what splendor while it lasted!
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