Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries Mary Stone

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 Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer, sweetgrass is a metaphor for respecting and having gratitude for our Earth an...

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 happy story of a successful Song Sparrow nest passing the nesting spot off to the Robin Family.&n...

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 nature, we can improve our health and our dear earth.I hope you enjoy the story.Related Stories &am...

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 already an explorer of plants; may we all be the same.I hope you enjoy the story.Related Stories & H...

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 :Wandering Willowwood Arboretum — blog post Ep 34. Forest Bathing, Willowwood Champion TreesNo Mow May Helps Pollinators – Blog Post Ep 103. No Mow May & Marvelous ...

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 dilemma. I hope you enjoy the story. Related Stories Carpenter Ants and Termites in Mulch– Blog Post&...