Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries

What a surprise to stumble upon Avis Campbell Gardens in Montclair, NJ. Enjoy a "tour" themed around the Wheel of Life and bits about Avis Campbell's legacy.  Then we admire a grand Kousa Dogwood, leading to a discussion of Delightful Dogwoods, though there are many Dogwood Disease Dilemmas. We chat about hybrids and cultivars that resist disease and end with how we can make a diffe...

Before the first Fall frost, you can harvest green tomatoes and ripen them indoors, a lesson from Ed, who gave me Hand-me-Down Tomatoes.   We talk about how to ripen tomatoes to avoid critter carnage and improve their appearance by preventing shoulder cracks. And a quick way to freeze your over-abundance of tomatoes.  Then, we wrap up with a funny scene of Ed's beloved lab feasting on Kousa D...

It's a nutty time! When nuts are abundant, it's called a Mast Year. In this episode, we chat about what triggers Mast Years, somewhat mysterious, and Shagbark Hickory's three-year cycle of nuts.  Shagbark Hickory are not often landscape trees-- what's beautiful to some is messy to others. But wildlife loves them. Find out why you may, too.   We wrap up with the wisdom that we a...

Enjoy a walk in the woods of Lodestar Park, Fredon, NJ, answering the question about the difference between Ponds vs. Lakes and Vernal Ponds. And how even pond-less waterfalls can benefit wildlife and soothe the soul.  We wrap up the episode with how serving others can happen in our gardens and yards by creating a healthful environment for our precious wildlife. Plus, do whatever you do with love...

This episode is a continuum of the last. We chat about a beloved Pet Painted Turtle and her lovable owner at the Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice, who lifted our hearts.  Then we talk about the Beech Leaf Disease dilemma and its cause and touch on remedies, not the least of which is Holding onto Hope with an analogy of how Fall leaves live forever. Related Stories (and Episodes) and Helpful Link...

In this episode, Mary Stone reflects on saving a baby snapping turtle she came upon soon after her brother Bill passed away, another a year ago, and helping a momma snapping turtle cross the road with kind passersby.  We chat about turtles that are welcome garden guests and how to attract them into your garden. Then, wrap up with how serving others, including Mother Nature, lifts our spirits.   Re...

A Women and Their Woods retreat hosted by the Ridge and Valley Conservancy in Newton, NJ, helped landowners caring for their woods –filled with tips on native plants to help heal our land. And how our relationship with trees and nature can be symbiotic – mutually beneficial rather than parasitic. The episode features highlights from Sharon Wander's presentation about Pollinator Friendly Prope...

While meandering the rocky terrain peppered with hemlock and Spruce, my friend Barbara asked why some trees remain evergreen and others don't. Good question. Let's ask the trees. Towards the end of the episode, you'll enjoy the story of Jolee coming upon a baby squirrel.  Related Stories and Helpful Links     Why Some Trees Remain Evergreen   Fall Needle Drop of Renewal column and c...

For special occasions, many come to Liberty Farm's Sussex County Sunflower Maze in Sandyston, NJ. What a treat for those benefiting from the Mental Health Association's services to roam the smiling faces of acres of sunflowers bringing us happiness.   Sunflowers represent sunshine, and giving them conveys friendship, good luck, admiration, love, and friendship. Thank you, Raj Sinha and y...

Late-season gardens can grow tired. Thankfully, there are late-season bloomers, many native plants I rely on to lift the drab and weedy. Glorious Goldenrod is among them. Despite rumors, they don't cause allergies and are not considered invasive by most authorities. Related Stories and Helpful Links     Late-Season Bloomers   Is Goldenrod Invasive?   Goldenrod's bad reputation  *** Unive...

Moths are like butterflies that party at night. Though many are considered ugly, like butterflies, moths are beautiful too and essential! We wrap up the episode by chatting about what moths and bats have in common, sure to bring a smile.   Related Stories and Helpful Links     Moths and Bats are Beautiful, Too Magical Blessing Moth Keeping Lighting Pollinator-Friendly with Blaine Rothauser. Native...

A kind reader's concern about how artificial light impacts pollinators leads to a discussion with Blaine Rothauser, Senior Ecologist and Threatened and Endangered Species Specialist at GZA GeoEnvironmental , who offers advice on keeping lighting pollinator-friendly. Related Stories and Helpful Links     Keeping Lighting Pollinator Friendly –Blog Post   Moths are Beautiful, Too  Blaine Rothaus...

I was given an Aloe Vera plant by a client who confessed she neglected it. I know how that goes I said to console her. Rescuing the Aloe appeared hopeless and ended in the compost pile. Then it came to life.  In this episode, we chat about Tips on Reviving Aloe Plants that help heal. Related Stories and Helpful Links     Rescuing Aloe Plants Helps Heal Benefits of Watering with Rainwater Per Petal...

I have a newfound admiration for ants and how they benefit our gardens and work as a team which may contradict treatments to solve ant dilemmas shared over the years.  This episode discusses safe remedies and ways to invite ants to live away from your home and patios.  Related Stories and Helpful Links       Admiration for Ants & Safe Remedies  Carpenter Ants and Termites in Mulch   Ants be Go...

As the legend goes, if you see a Clymene Moth, consider it a gift, as you will have a blessing coming forward in your life, as did I. And so they are known as Blessing Moths.    In this episode, I share the story of saying goodbye to a dear friend and the magical moment of coming upon a Blessing Moth. Plus, a reflection on the origin of Bottle Trees.     Related Stories and Helpful Links       Mot...

I recently discovered that Bachelor Buttons are also called Chicory and Chicory Bachelor Buttons. Learn about these blue roadside beauties' origins, similarities, differences, and love stories. And there's a Chicory Fairy poem sure to delight you, reflecting the Cycles of Nature that are never ending and the Hope that exists because of it.   Related Stories and Helpful Links          Bac...

In this episode, we meet my favorite understory shrub, Bottlebrush Buckeyes, and how I planted them to hide the Gnarly Tree Knees of Blue Spruce as they began dying from the bottom up from Canker Disease.  We chat about recent flooding, downed Ash trees killed by emerald ash borers, and the declaration of mainstream media gloom and dooming the changes in climate.  Nature is constantly changing. No...

We start the episode with a fascinating follow-up of last week's (Ep 116) Owl and Hawk story – witnessing a rat snake snagged by a hawk.  Leeding to the wisdom of not tampering with nature despite the biggest garden dilemma - Darn Deer. We chat about Non-stinky Deer Deterrents to spare your gardens and why feeding deer is detrimental.   And wrap up with Eastern Rat Snakes' remarkable hun...

What looked like clusters of rusty brown leaves were remnants of our resident Red-shouldered Hawk—a heavy heart. The likely culprit is a Great-horned Owl.   We chat about the behavior, history, and legends of Red-shouldered Hawks and Great-horned Owls and how they benefit the garden, including a humorous bit about a skunk family that took up residence in a client's basement.  Related Stories...

Remember the seed-spitting contests on the Fourth of July? It's hard to do nowadays as most watermelons are said to be seedless, but the truth is, it's not so. In this episode, we discuss how Seedless Watermelon came to be and why they compare to mules. Plus, we learn why they are not genetically modified (non-GMO) and can be organic. And the health benefits of the pink fleshy fruit.   ...

A country song by Kathy Mattea titled Seeds starts with "We're all just seeds in God's hands." I hope you enjoy the story of the magical transport systems of seeds and a reflection of how the song has circled through my life. We all carry seeds of opportunity to help our dear Earth and our communities and serve others. As we become aware of it, the roots of our spirits grow. An...

Green beans aren't only green anymore. And tomatoes come in all sorts of shades and mottled blends of colors. Are funky vegetables genetically modified?  This episode discusses the differences between genetically modified (GMO) versus heirlooms versus hybrids. Then there are organic seeds and vegetables to consider and how funky vegetables can be non-GMO and even organic. We chat about the or...

After last week's chat about Fawn's Cry and Perennial Pilfering (Ep 111) and letting wildlife be, I thought you'd enjoy a story about running into Seal Pup Surprise at Island Beach State Park, NJ. We wrap up with an announcement of Growing Forward – how I finally submitted a book proposal for The Lesson of the Leaf to Hay House Publishing. I hope the story will inspire you to push t...

While hearing a fawn's cry can cause concern, only when wildlife is injured, or a deceased mother is nearby should we assist by contacting a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.  The story celebrates the generous spirit of Kelly Simonetti, founder of Antler Ridge, a revered Wildlife Sanctuary in Frelinghuysen, New Jersey, which sadly closed, unable to keep up after the passing of Kelly in Novembe...

In this episode, we discuss the history and Meaning of Memorial Day and the Flowers of Remembrance.  And reflect on Comfort Zone Camp, a grief camp for kids that hosts a loss-by-suicide camp the week before Memorial Day. One year the camp theme was a  Phoenix representing resurrection and renewal associated with the bird on the first great seal of the United States.  We wrap up on a personal note...