Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries, Ask Mary Stone, New Jersey Garden blog
two male voluneers digging in plants at a community park

Benefits of Gardening

Hello Fellow Readers, I hope you are all holding up okay and enjoying more time at home and with your families. During these challenging times, I encourage you to find comfort and therapy in the benefits of gardening. Here’s why.
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A rock with moss in the shape of a hippo.

Magnificent Moss

Magnificent moss serves as a carefree lawn alternative, is ideal for green roofs, and creates art in the garden and amongst nature. Learn about this ancient plant and other delights to be found in the dreariness of winter.
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Introducing the Garden Dilemmas Podcast

Hello Fellow Readers, If I may share a special announcement, dear lover of all things green: The launch of a Podcast version of Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries! We’ve been sharing through this weekly column for more than seven years now, for which I am so grateful to
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Burle Marx – NY Botanical Garden

Hello Fellow Readers, Recently I had the privilege of visiting the New York Botanical Gardens with nurserywoman become friend, Holly from Blairstown NJ. It was her idea to see the gardens featuring Brazilian landscape architect Burle Marx before the exhibit closed last week. Designate
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Spiderwort-Tradescantia-ohiensis

Spiderwort invading Pachysandra

Hello Fellow Readers, I received an inquiry about an invasion amongst a patch of pachysandra from Josephine (Jo) of Phillipsburg, NJ. “How do I best get rid of spider warts?” she asked. We shared a back-and-forth email chat that played out like an investigation. “I never heard of spid
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Female-Zuchinni-Flower-Photo-Rimi-Studios

Birds & Bees of Zucchini Flowers

Hello Fellow Readers, I am a new owner of a big girl camera—a digital Nikon SLR. Previously I’ve relied on a point-and-shoot camera, “which is getting long in the tooth,” per my dear Curt. Funny saying, long in the tooth stems from how horses’ teeth continue to
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Marigolds-Races-Farm-Blairstown-NJ

The Legend of Marigolds

Hello Fellow Readers, I recently shopped for annuals for Ron of Stillwater, NJ, who wished for bright hues. Previously he planted marigolds. I haven’t used them for years, likely due to a childhood memory of my first garden – primarily marigolds grown from seed. “Mary̵
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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, Lichen on trees, Moss on trees

Liking Lichen & Moss

Hello Fellow Readers, Last week’s column about removing moss from retaining walls (an idea I don’t favor as stark walls softened by mossy volunteers is magnificent) inspired questions about removing moss and lichen from tree trunks. But there’s no reason to remove it
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a golden retriever looking at a holly in snow and Deer Out Deer Spray

Preamble to Spring To-dos

Hello Fellow Readers, As I write our latest eight inches of white fluff graces our world. But hold tight, we’re in the preamble of spring. I smiled over the weekend when I noticed the Hosta in the potted gardens I’ve been overwintering in the garage have emerged. Seeing their pale thr
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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, Road Salt Damage, Road Salt Alternatives, Calcium Magnesium Acetate

Road Salt Alternatives

Hello Fellow Readers, This is the time of year I attend manufacturer showcases premiering new products, mostly paver or block retaining wall systems, which are made of concrete. This is also the time of year that road salt and brine are being used to de-ice our roads. Road salt and br
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