Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries, Ask Mary Stone, New Jersey Garden blog
the silvery underside of a Silver maple Leaf

Silver Maple, a Native American Treasure

Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. Silver Maple, once a Native American treasure, has lost favor in the horticultural industry. Still, I adore its history and marvel over how Mother Nature matched one treasure with another to make a revered tree that is now a trade staple. Silv
Read More
Looking up at a Sycamore with creamy white, grey, and greenish patches on the trunk against a blue sky

Anatomy & Array of Beautiful Bark

Hello, fellow lover of all things green, During winter walks through the woods, the bark of trees takes center stage, especially standing in the snow. I confess to not being the best and identifying species without leaves unless a few are on the tree or the ground nearby. Bruce Crawfo
Read More
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.
Read More
tan beech leaves clinging to beech tree banches

Beloved Beech Trees

Hello, fellow readers. One of the gems that jumped out from The Book of Hope we chatted about last week is Jane Goodall’s closest childhood friend, Beech, a beech tree she asked her grandmother to pass on to her in a handwritten will. You see, I have a beloved Mr. Beech, too, al
Read More
Mary Stone, Garden Dilemmas, Ask Mary Stone,Gardening tips, Garden Blogs, Stone Associates Landscape Design, Garden Blog, Woody Plant Conference, Scotts Arboretum, Morton Arboretum

Baobab Tree of Life

Hello fellow readers, I’m back from the Woody Plant Conference held at Scott Arboretum at Swarthmore College PA, always a treat. While not nearly as knowledgeable as the scientists and arborists in attendance, I have a love affair with trees, especially those that have lived far longe
Read More