Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries, Ask Mary Stone, New Jersey Garden blog
a red maple leaf resting on the edge of Catfish Pond

“Leaf Therapy” Fills Emptiness

Hello fellow readers, Camp Mohican has been a place of respite and contemplation since I moved to Blairstown, NJ, 21 years ago. Contiguous with the Appalachian Trail, it’s one of the reasons I relocated here. Walking amongst the trees always helps my heart. Yesterday, I desperat
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a grey farm house peaking through the gardens of Willowwood Arboretum

Wandering Willowwood Arboretum

Hello Fellow Readers, What a delight to wander through Willowwood Arboretum, invited by dear friends Ruth and Jim of Hope, NJ. I had never heard about the public garden, free to visit; that’s part of the Morris County Park system. Tucked away in Far Hills, NJ, the journey throug
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comfort zone camp 2020 pin in the shape of glasses sitting on a purple flowering violet

Better than Twenty-Twenty

Hello Fellow Readers, We welcome a new year, with sentiments of good riddance to 2020. A year we entered with optimism. The number itself, 2020, invites the concept of balance, of “perfect” vision. But twenty-twenty is not a perfect vision. It’s an average vision. It
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Black and white photo of a smiling golden retriever in front of a boulder

Unexpected Furry Messenger

Hello Fellow Readers, As you know, Miss Ellie Mae is the mascot for our column since we began our weekly chats over eight years ago. With a heavy heart, I share the news that we helped her go home on Tuesday. She arrived unexpectedly eleven years ago during a tough time of transition.
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a sunset in a winter snow at the Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice

There must be more…

Hello Fellow Readers, The Press publishes a New Year’s pictorial issue to provide their staff with a week off between Christmas and New Year’s. I’ll admit I enjoyed the deadline respite too but wish to reach out to my faithful online followers – thank you for being so! As I writ
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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, Robin

One World / Memorial Day

Hello fellow readers, As I share this week’s dilemma, delight, or discovery in the garden of life, I can’t help but reflect on the significance of Memorial Day. A holiday set aside in memory of those that served. It’s heartwarming to see folks setting up the American
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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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Heart-shaped fallen leaf covered with raindrops among autumn oak leaves

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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Walking on Water, Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone, Gardening tips, Garden Blogs

Walking on Water

Yesterday we enjoyed the thrill of walking on water; skiing really as I was outfitted with cross country skis while Curt and Miss Ellie were on foot. We were able to cross to the other side of Catfish Pond at Camp Mohican (known as Mohican Outdoor Center), a favored meditation spot wh
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the sun casting long shadows of trees in snow signifying hope

Hope

This photo, entitled ‘Hope’, was used as a holiday greeting to cherished colleagues and clients this year. But when I took the photo, only a few weeks after my beloved brother Bill’s passing, I didn’t think of the scene as Hope. True, the beauty of the long sha
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