Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries

Mary Stone reviews the disadvantages and benefits of praying mantises in gardens, stressing the importance of native versus invasive non-native species. She focuses on the harmful invasive Chinese Mantis that prey on the native Carolina Mantis and hummingbirds.   Mary also shares a faith testimony given 14 years ago, sharing her spiritual journey, struggles, and the healing unconditional love she...

Mary Stone describes the last of her late-season garden bounty and reflects on the guidelines of an Honorable Harvest, referencing the Native American tradition as outlined by Robin Wall Kimmerer's book Braiding Sweetgrass. A humorous bounceback about the Birds and Bees of Zucchini leads to Mary Stone's sharing a personal story (Downsize and Do-Over) from her book underway (The Lesson of...

Mary Stone reminisces about the history of Silver Maples, once a Native American treasure, and finding an arrowhead on Sunset Beach in Cape May, New Jersey. And the importance of not taking artifacts as it disrupts the archeological record. As does destroying artifacts of history that teach future generations not to repeat shameful mistakes. Mary reflects on the wisdom of pushing hands in Tai Chi,...

Mary Stone shares a story about a fig tree in Cape May, NJ, sporting an invitation to help yourself. But a sign saying "Don't be a Fig Pig" reminds her of picking daffodils as a young child and being scolded for it.  Then recounts the saga of overwintering a fig tree given as a rite of passage after marrying that didn't end well. But it wasn't that she didn't give a f...

In this episode, Mary Stone shares an overview of her upcoming book, The Lesson of the Leaf: How Nature, Gardens (and Rescue Dogs) Help Heal and Grow Your Life. A journey from loneliness and loss to love and hope, inspired by the wisdom her beloved brother left behind.  She reflects on the significance of the number 180 (Episode 180), linking 1 - 8 to Infinity with the One and the number zero with...

In this episode, we chat about A Butterfly Garden of Growth at Johnsonburg Camp & Retreat Center in New Jersey, which hosted a Comfort Zone Camp in partnership with A Little Hope Foundation to support kids who lost a loved one to suicide. We review nectar and host plants important to butterflies and why Butterfly Bush is not ideal. Then, end with a reflection of the Butterfly Effect-- the inte...

In this episode, Mary Stone discusses the importance of native plants, mentioning Blaine Rothauser's work and including native plants in a previous project.  Then, we chat about the beauty yet invasiveness of Japanese Knotweed and the beneficial native Orange Jewelweed. And hope that plants from other countries become integrated into our environment as the balance of nature adapts.  A reflect...

In this episode, Mary Stone chats about the nighttime chorus of garden insects from her screened porch, highlighting the Agile Meadow Katydid, Fall Field Cricket, and Snowy Tree Cricket.  Then shares a personal story about her niece and the healing power of nature, emphasizing the life-changing outcomes of learning to love and let go. Thanks for tuning in.  Related Stories: Nighttime Chorus of Gar...

Mary Stone reflects on her recent trip to California and the joy of reconnecting with a lifelong friend. She discusses listener responses to previous episodes, including Lorraine's recent solution for her Bowing Blossoms of Limelight Hydrangeas. She reminisces about a cicada encounter during a project at Morristown Airport, explaining the difference between annual and periodical cicadas and g...

You may remember the treat of learning about John Cabot Roses through my writer friend Koleen Garland, who lives in Canada. In this episode, Koleen reads a saga about her Dagnabbit Rabbit Dilemma, sure to delight. And with it comes acceptance. Thank you for tuning in. Related Stories: Koleen’s Dagnabbit Rabbit Dilemma - blog post Irresistible John Cabot Rose - blog post Ep 162. The Irresistible Jo...

In this episode, we revisit the story of Lorraine's Flopping Limelight Hydrangea and chat about a new variety that solves the Bowing Blossoms of Limelights. Lorraine's garden dilemma came four years ago when we said goodbye to our beloved canine kid, Miss Ellie Mae. We wrap up reflecting that while endings and losses are part of life, love remains forever rooted in our hearts. Then come...

In this episode, we chat about replacing invasive plants like Burning Bush with Native Plants, highlighting the beauty and versatility of Oak Leaf Hydrangeas for All Seasons. We review beautiful garden companions for Oak Leaf Hydrangea, varieties you'll love, and other native plants that are perfect replacements for Burning Bush. We wrap up with the hilarious story of gardeners that pilfered...

Due to the mild and wet winter in the Northeast, we've enjoyed abundant hydrangea blooms, so much so that plants are flopping and blocking walkways.  We revisit a story When to Prune Hydrangea, Deer! (When deer heavily pruned my hydrangea.) And wrap up with a strategy for pruning fading blooms so branches bounce back without risking next year’s flowers.  Did you know Endless Summer Hydrangeas...

In this episode, I share a charming scene of a young girl gathering pinecones by the fistful outside the Runway Café bringing her and me such happiness. May we all cherish our fists of treasures, living with gratitude for the beautiful gifts in our lives. We wrap up with an exchange on the side of the road about Cornflowers often mistaken for Bachelor Buttons and the origin of Cornflowers on the o...

An entertaining exchange about the possible Causes of an Abundance of Acorns Dropping Early leads to Lessons in Letting Go. Nearby Oak trees were defoliated by Spongy Moths, formerly called Gypsy Moths, and could be the cause. We chat about the origin of Spongy Moths and the reasons for the name change.   Thank you for tuning in. Related Stories & Helpful Links: Early Acorn Drop – Lessons of L...

A long-standing client considered using Roundup to tend to the weeds in his patio and walkway. Instead, I shared Safe Alternatives to Harmful Weed Killers. In this episode, I share bits of our 15-year history of working together, including reflections on Andrew's youngest daughter helping to tickle the roots of perennials on planting day. Jessica, now 22, will join her siblings to attend thei...

I recently designed a low-maintenance garden. Around it, we planted a pollinator-friendly lawn alternative: a combination of No-Mow Lawn and Micro-clover Seed Mix and No-Mow Flowering Lawn Seed Mix from American Meadows.  The clients adored it, but town authorities insisted they mow it. Hopefully, they will change their mind when they learn the benefits of a clover lawn that pollinators love.  Tha...

In this episode, we share a visit to the Frelinghuysen Arboretum in Morristown, NJ, which came with an extraordinary surprise—the arrival of the Gift of a Giant Umbrella Pine. The story includes insights from those involved in the arrival: Bruce Crawford, Kristen Prommel, Mark Adelle, and Lori Jenssen. Plus, a tour of other treasures in the Conifer Collection.   We wrap up reflecting on a special...

We start the episode revisiting the creation myths of Native Americans naming North America as "Turtle Island." Turtles are welcome guests in the garden; Box turtles eat up to 10,000 slugs a season and other pests, including grubs. We wrap up by sharing Natural Slug Remedies beyond inviting a turtle into your garden. Some will surely bring a chuckle. I hope you enjoy the story.  Thanks s...

In this episode, we start with an update on the Song Sparrow meets Robin, thanks to Blaine Rothauser, an expert on all things in nature, leading to Lessons from Braiding Sweetgrass.  Sweetgrass, Hierochloe (meaning "holy grass") odorata (meaning "fragrant"), is a grass native to North America and is included in Native American rituals and healing. In the exquisite book Braiding...

When the light begins to break, songbirds sing their happy calls of gratitude that Morning has Broken, reminding us of the lyrics to the song Cat Stevens made famous.  American Robins are among the first birds to lay eggs in the spring and, therefore, are considered a symbol of renewal and new beginnings. In this episode I share how the sadness of baby robins that didn't survive turned into a...

Thankfully, there are resistant rose varieties, such as Knockout Roses and John Cabot Roses we discussed in Ep. 162. But even with that, dilemmas can arise. In this episode, we discuss unsightly rose dilemmas requiring Holy Moly Rose Remedies to treat insect and fungal damage safely. Then, we wrap up with an analogy of how plant dilemmas parallel health dilemmas we endure as humans. By nurturing n...

What a treat to share a writer friend's story about John Cabot Rose from the Explorer Series. Koleen Garland, from Canada, titled her two-hour writing binge -That Indestructible, Irresistibly Beautiful John Cabot Rose.  We wrap up the episode with wisdom from a child I met while volunteering at Comfort Zone Camp (a bereavement camp for kids.) Flora Forever - The young arborist-to-be is alread...

I look forward to sharing a few glorious Wonders of Willowwood Arboretum in Chester Township, NJ, as shared by Bruce Crawford, Manager of Horticulture of Morris County Park Commission. I especially adore the wisdom gained from the beauty of the old and declining trees. I hope you enjoy the story. Related Stories : Gentle Strength of Umbrella Pine – Blog Post  Ep 87. Gentle Strength of Umbrella Pin...

Today's topic hits close to home. Sandy's pine bark nuggets were filled with huge black ants and termites. The close-to-home part is that I was tackling carpenter ants that nested in the screened porch, so Sandy's dilemma was my dilemma, too. In this episode, we share a comical saga about determining the difference between carpenter ants and termites and safe ways to remedy the dile...