Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries, Ask Mary Stone, New Jersey Garden blog
Johnsonburg-Camp-Retreat Center-butterfly- garden

A Butterfly Garden of Growth

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. Thanks to those who reached back after last week’s post, Remember, Learn, Grow and Love. I hope you enjoy this related story about a butterfly garden of growth. Admiration fills my heart… Admiration fills my heart for the children&
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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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A Meadow Katydid on a white petal

Nighttime Chorus of Garden Insects

Hello, fellow lover of all things green. While we don’t often see the nighttime chorus of insects from mid-to-late summer into fall, we indeed hear them, and some continue to sing by day, joining the daytime ruckus of the cicadas we spoke about last week. What a choir! They don&
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Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Garden Blog, Cicada

Cicadas Sing Back to School

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. In recent weeks, while recording the podcast, I’ve apologetically mentioned the ruckus of cicadas in the trees. The sounds remind me of a cicada encounter during a garden installation and a reminiscence of how the late summer sounds of c
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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, Green and White Gardens, Gardens Glow, Oak leaf Hydrangea, Bottle brush buckeye, Horse Chestnut, Variegated ornamental grass

White Flowers in Gardens Glow

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. If I may revisit a remarkable garden design story from a handful of years ago for Morristown Airport and lessons learned from how white flowers in gardens glow. Our not good enough button Do you recall waiting until the last minute to finish y
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A rabbit in a lawn facing side ways

Koleen’s Dagnabbit Rabbit Dilemma

Hello lovers of all things green, You may remember the treat of learning about John Cabot Roses through my writer friend Koleen Garland who lives in Canada. Well, Koleen recently sent a saga about her dagnabbit rabbit dilemma sure to delight. Koleen’s story: I like to garden wit
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a closeup of a flopping limelight hydrangea

Fixing Flopping Limelight Hydrangeas

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. In the spirit of our recent chats about hydrangeas and a heartfelt anniversary, I’d like to revisit a story about flopping Limelight Hydrangeas and introduce you to a newer variety that solves the bowing blossoms of Limelights. Lorraine
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a course green leafed Munchkin Oakleaf Hydrangea with pinkish flowers spotted with freckles.

Oakleaf Hydrangea for All Seasons

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. Bonnie of Stillwater, NJ, has a Burning Bush planted by her parents, who once lived in the home. She is attached to it and continues to prune it to keep it from rising above her bay window, which may help prevent its invasiveness. But I sugges
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Deep Blue Flowering Hydrangea loaded with Blooms

When to Prune Hydrangea, Deer!

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green, Hydrangeas blooms have been bountiful this year in the Northeast due to the mild and wet winter without the normal cycle of freezing and thawing that damages buds. Mine are so heavily laden that they are flopping, blocking access to the front
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a little girl in a blue sundress and pigtails holding hands with her mom.

Fistfuls of Pinecones Bring Happiness

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. Last week, we spoke about Early Acorn Drop – Lessons of Letting Go. Acorns aren’t the only thing that seems to be dropping early. During a walk on Sunday on the Paulinskill Rail Trail, I meandered further and landed at our local airport.
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