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 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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Close-up of winter berries in snow

Berries for Winter Beauty and Wildlife

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green, One of my joys is meeting and working with others who relish our dear earth’s gifts, often leading to sharing life stories. There’s something about being in a garden and amongst nature that releases the tension of day-to-day living
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Honeylocust-Spikes

Honey Locust the Porcupine of Trees

Native Honeylocust has long bean-looking seedpods I used to decorate window boxes. The fascinating tree's sharp spikes are prominent this time of year. It’s remarkable how nature creates mechanisms to protect trees from predators - much like a porcupine.
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Women & Their Woods with Native Plants

Hello, fellow readers; I was honored to participate in the Women and Their Woods retreat hosted by the Ridge and Valley Conservancy in Newton, NJ, to help landowners care for their woods –filled with tips on native plants to help heal our land. Before my talk about Landscaping with Na
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a yellow flowering Ligularia in front of a white pine trunk

Late-Season Bloomers

Hello, fellow readers. As we approach the homestretch of the gardening season, many gardens grow tired. Mine especially so as the poor things suffer from neglect. Busy tending to other folks’ gardens is my not-so-perfect excuse. Thankfully, there are late-season bloomers I rely
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A red Virginia Creeper Vine climbing a tree

Value of Virginia Creeper vs. Poison Ivy

Hello fellow readers,  What a treat to visit Elisabeth, a delightful client who moved back from Chicago to be near her family. She painted her renovated and restored farmhouse built in the 1800s in a dramatic yet soothing shade of dark gray with black trim. And implemented the landsca
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a black and white dg overlooking a heart shaped stone amongst fry leaves and yellow Coltsfoot flowers.

Etiquette of Pilfering Rocks

Hello fellow readers, What a delight to help a lifelong friend plan a more sustainable backyard by removing turf and putting in a lawn alternative and native plants to nurture nature. Part of the criteria for a grant, which will fund some of the project’s expenses, is to include
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A flat topped mushroom amongst moss and a bottlebrush buckeye leaf

Mary Reynolds and Nurturing Nature

Hello fellow readers, After a long day placing plants, I did what I rarely do. I settled down in front of the television to veg out. Legs elevated on pillows to lessen foot fatigue, clicker in hand; I stumbled upon a movie based on a true story titled Dare to be Wild, about Mary Reyno
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