Mary Stone describes the beauty and fragrance of Sweet Autumn Clematis, despite its invasive tendencies, suggesting that pruning seed heads before they dry will prevent self-seeding. She introduces an alternative native plant look-alike, Virgin...

As a sequel to the last episode, Mary Stone updates the progress of a late-season cardinal nest that she thought was taken by a predator. Later, she learns that the fledglings are likely on the ground, honing their flying skills while being ten...

Mary Stone reflects on how birthdays encourage us to pause and reflect, change, and maybe plant new seeds. She shares the outcomes of her book proposal to Hay House Publishing, which, although initially disappointing, inspires other ways to sha...

Mary Stone shares participating in a moth survey with Blaine Rothauser of GZA Geoenvironmental, Inc., and Dennis Briede, whose mountain meadow is at the base of the Kittatinny Mountains in Blairstown, New Jersey. Using metal halide ...

Mary Stone shares the Remedies for Mile-a-Minute Weed and how an inundation of the invader turned into a garden filled with Native Deer-resistant Butterfly Plants. Thanks for tuning in. Related Podcasts and Posts You'...

After last week's episode, Mary Stone describes the photo of a Green Frog peeking through a patch of Duckweed, the smallest flowering plant. Blaine Rothauser sent it. She shares the wonders of the unusual, tiny aquatic plant, its benefits to wi...

Mary Stone shares the sights and sounds of an overnight camp on her screen porch, including a Green Frog Chorus, two Great Horned Owls, waving Tulip Trees, and a visiting Great Blue Heron.  Thanks for tuning in!  Rela...

Mary Stone interviews Carol Decker, a renowned wildlife artist. Carol shares her self-taught art journey, emphasizing thankfulness for her gift and success. Her 80 paintings graced the covers of New Jersey Outdoor magazine, propelling her caree...

Mary Stone shares a humorous story about a neighbor's beaver and woodchuck dilemmas, the differences between the two, and their respective remedies. She then addresses the issue of invasive barberry, suggesting alternatives, emphasizing the imp...

Mary Stone shares a story based mainly on truth that takes place in two historic estates built by a French architect in Northwest New Jersey, owned by elderly and eccentric weekenders from Princeton. She adds a mystery to the story, themed arou...

Mary Stone discusses the impact of insects and diseases on native trees, such as the Emerald Ash Borer, Spongy Moths, and Beech Leaf Disease. Mary shares the recommendations of the Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, suggesting ...

In this episode, Mary Stone describes a labyrinth in Frenchy's Field along the Santa Fe River that April Fisher of the Sussex County NJ Native Plant Society shared and tidbits about Prairie Dogs prevalent there. She then discusses t...

Mary Stone answers a question about whether Spongy Moths, formerly called Gypsy Moths, make tents in trees. Not so, though the larvae look similar to Eastern Tent Caterpillars and Fall Webworms. Spongy Moths can completely defoliate and kill tr...

Mary Stone shares her journey to find a labyrinth at the Johnsonburg Camp and Retreat Center, which recently hosted Comfort Zone Camp, a grief camp for young adults for whom she volunteers. She describes the labyrinth's location and design and ...

After sharing a snap pea dilemma, Mary Stone reviews the significance of soil temperature for sowing vegetable seeds, tools, and DIY techniques to check soil temperature. She features the benefits of No-Till gardening to improve soi...

Mary Stone delves into the beauty of water droplets called the Lotus Effect on plants such as Lady's Mantle and Nasturtium, and insects such as butterflies and dragonflies. She reflects on Lady's Mantle's folklore, its benefits in the garden, a...

Mary Stone discusses how and when to divide iris to improve plant health and increase blooms. She also shares the history of her gifted iris and other plants, some of which are not her favorites.Mary suggests native alternatives to Stell...

Mary Stone discusses how Violets and Pansies bring joy to our gardens and pots in the cool seasons of Spring and Fall. She revisits bits of Vicki Johnson's story, shared in Episode 202, of how pansies grown by her mother, a Swiss giant pansy in...

Mary Stone shares a heartwarming story from her dear friend Vicki Johnson, a garden writer and photographer, about her gardening start, which grew into a passion and career. It stemmed from her mother's love for gardening, which blossomed in he...

Mary Stone discusses the beauty of early spring, the sunny faces of daffodils and their significance, and the roots of a family tradition of gathering cuttings from the family plot. Mary describes the benefits and the how-to of dividing perenni...

Mary Stone celebrates the 200th episode of the podcast, reflecting on the journey and the lessons gained from nature and gardens and thanking listeners for their help and kind support. She chats about her hopes to expand her reach, perhaps on Y...

Mary Stone shares the delight of Wood Frogs arriving in her pond and singing their mating calls. Previously, Bullfrogs and Spring Peepers were the only frog residences. Mary highlights the role of frogs and toads in pest control and as indicato...

Mary Stone discusses early spring garden tasks, such as rejuvenating shrubs and removing dead wood. She describes the process of rejuvenating shrubs and the protocols for pruning lavender and concludes with wisdom gained from the rhythms of nat...

Mary Stone shares her design colleague and dear friend Marty Carson’s favorite summer flowering bulbs to plant in spring, adding a few other hardy deer-resistant corms to the list. A discussion on using bone meal while planting bulbs as a squir...

Mary Stone discusses the how-tos of encouraging early indoor spring blooms that go beyond her go-to of Forsythia. She shares a story by her friend Vicki Johnson, a garden writer and photographer, who colorfully describes an assortment of Spring...