Hello fellow readers, Over the weekend I participated in a Family Holiday Program for Comfort Zone Camp (CZC), a bereavement camp for kids and young adults. It’s their twentieth anniversary of serving families who have lost loved ones too early in life. The holidays are especially dif

Hello fellow readers, Tom from Tranquility NJ wonders if his Flowering Pears (Pyrus calleryana) are in trouble. “The leaves immediately turned brown right after the dump of snow and are still clinging to the trees. Does that mean the new buds haven’t yet formed?” No worries Tom, ornam

Hello fellow readers, Last week, I confess, I crumbled under the stress of racing to meet deadlines. It felt paralyzing with classic symptoms of anxiety… tight chest and labored breathing. It’s a good thing I’m in good shape, I thought to myself, so my heart can ride the race. I

Hello fellow readers, I recently learned that Boxwood Blight may be coming to town from Patrick LePore, an associate from Bartlett Tree Experts, who alerted me that it’s been found in Central New Jersey. He was on his way to our client’s Bob and Kathy of Piscataway to assess their box

Hello fellow readers, Over the weekend I enjoyed a hike along the Appalachian Trail with a longtime friend from Boonton NJ. While meandering the rocky terrain peppered with hemlock and spruce, Barbara asked why some trees are evergreen and others are not. Good question. Let’s ask the

Hello fellow readers, While the fall planting season is wrapping up, there’s still time to plant most species of woody plants. Good thing as Gail and Rich of Sparta NJ have a naked garden dilemma since a new neighbor moved in who opted to take down a glorious stand of Canadian hemlock

Hello fellow readers, I just ordered 500 bulbs and am ramping up to dig them in. I confess that planting bulbs are not my favorite to-do and in truth, I haven’t planted them in many years. Maybe because the gratification comes months later, though beautiful things are well worth waiti

Hello fellow readers, I recently returned from a respite in Virginia Beach. What a treat to enjoy summer weather and sunshine especially given our summer of wetness. In the fridge was a half a watermelon in plastic wrap which I didn’t think would still be viable. But it was. When I pu

Hello fellow readers, Is fall a good time to mulch, asked John of Washington NJ? I think so, especially because when spring arrives there’s much to do in the garden and for me, the madness of the season speedily unfolds. This spring, like most springs, mulching didn’t happen despite m

Hello fellow readers, Mums and ornamental cabbage have become the iconic welcome to the glories of fall, though there are other less common fall annuals gaining popularity. Lynda of East Stroudsburg PA asked what the bright pink caterpillar-like blooms that sit atop spiky foliage are?