Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries

🍂 Is a messy autumn garden really a problem? Mary Stone explores the beauty and benefits of leaving leaves, seed heads, and a little room for Mother Nature to do her thing.

From a delightful no-mow clover lawn in Bergen County, NJ, that stirred up neighborhood controversy to her own shagbark hickory leaf cleanup and final mowing dilemma, Mary shares practical ways to work with nature rather than against it.

Along the way, there's therapeutic raking, Jolee and Boohickles playing in the leaves, and a personal reflection on getting unstuck in our gardens of life.

Sometimes beauty lies in letting things be. 🍁

Related stories and podcasts:

· The Beauty of Leaving Things Be – Companion Blog post- link to come

· Delightful No-Mow Clover Lawns – Linda and Jim's flowering lawn alternative

· Episode 101 – Woodcock Dance - Making a Meadow

· Episode 103 – No Mow May and Marvelous Moss

· Episode 273 – Haunted Trails and the Comfort of Trees

Connect with Mary Stone
Visit: https://askmarystone.com/
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com

Thank you for listening and for sharing the Garden of Life. 🌻

Explore more:

🎙️ Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries – More stories and lessons from the Garden of Life.

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

A peaceful autumn walk takes a spooky turn when Mary Stone and her rescue dog, Jolee, discover the Haunted Trails at Mohican Outdoor Center in Blairstown, NJ.

Amid dangling ghosts, creepy creatures, and a masked Friday the 13th visitor, Jolee's hilarious misadventure brings unexpected laughter. But beyond the Halloween mischief, Catfish Pond's beauty stirs tender memories of Mary's brother Bill, heart-shaped stones, and his Lesson of the Leaf.

It's a heartfelt reminder that nature offers room for grief, healing, and laughter—and that joy often waits around the next bend.

Because gardens, nature, and life are always teaching us something. Our role is to listen.

Explore more:

🍂 Haunted Trails and the Comfort of Trees – Read the companion column and enjoy photos of the adventure. (link to come)

👻 Halloween's History & Sycamore Ghosts – Revisit Mary's earlier story about Halloween traditions and the happy ghosts circling a magnificent sycamore in Hope, NJ.

🎙️ Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries – More stories and lessons from the Garden of Life.

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

What looked like a renovation in the making, the Children's Garden at Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden became a reminder of childhood adventures in nature. Mary Stone recalls climbing trees, building firewood forts, and growing up with a dad who worked in the space program—when Tang was the drink of astronauts.

From Longwood Gardens to pinecone angels and miniature terrariums, discover how nature's treasures inspire imagination at any age. Plus, a fun update on Susan's battle with Japanese knotweed.

Link to the companion post: Nature’s Playground: Where Imagination Grows

Related Stories & Episodes

Fairchild & Autumn Reflections

Ep 271 – Meeting the Tree of Life & When Autumn Comes Early |

Blog Posts: Meeting the Tree of Life | When Autumn Arrives Early

Childhood Memories – Blog Posts

Mary Stone's Brief Bio | Mom Jackson's Garden

Miniature Gardens

Ep 144 – Festive Partridge Berry–Terrarium Basics |

Blog Post: Terrariums – A Mini Gardening Warmup | Festive Partridge Berry

Knotweed Update

Ep 270 – To Weed or Not Weed Knotweed

Blog Post: To Weed or Not to Weed Knotweed?

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

A family visit to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden in Florida brings Mary Stone face-to-face with a much-adored baobab, known as the Tree of Life. Along the way, she discovers colorful tropical plants, a reluctant butterfly, and a touching reminder of how her mother's love of gardening continues to grow.

Back home, Mary's beloved sugar maple is shedding leaves weeks ahead of schedule, while a seemingly lifeless baby tuliptree offers a surprise. She explores how drought stress affects trees, why lichen and moss are harmless companions, and the benefits of turning fallen leaves into leaf mold – far better than mulch.

Holding on. Letting go. Beginning again.

Sometimes growth is happening beneath the surface, even when we cannot see it. The same is true in our Garden of Life.

Link to the Companion Posts:

• Meeting the Tree of Life
• When Autumn Arrives Early — Letting Go and Beginning Again

Links to Related Episodes and Blog Posts You'll Enjoy:

Episode 270 — To Weed or Not to Weed Knotweed?

Read the companion story.

Episode 61 — A Story of Treasured Tuliptrees

Read: A Story of Treasured Tuliptrees

• Link to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

To weed or not to weed knotweed? An afternoon of weeding in a client's garden leads Mary to an unexpected dilemma—and a deeper dive into this beautiful but notoriously difficult invasive plant.

Mary Stone revisits her first encounter with Japanese knotweed (Reynoutria japonica)) as one of September's roadside beauties and her neighbor Susan's success in eradicating a colony through persistent pulling. She explores what the research says about nonchemical management, herbicide treatment, and concerns about knotweed damaging homes.

As often happens in the garden, sometimes answers are complicated. And sometimes our dilemmas invite us to remain curious, learn from one another, and grow from our mistakes—the same is true in our Garden of Life.

Link to the companion post: To Weed or Not to Weed Knotweed?

Connect with Mary Stone
Visit: AskMaryStone.com
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com

Thank you for listening and for sharing the Garden of Life. 🌻

Related stories and episodes:

• September Roadside Beauties- Blog Post September 2018

• Knotweed Meets Crown Vetch / the story of Susan tackling Japanese knotweed, June 2022. Also featured inEpisode 62 - Rethinking Weeds & Invasive Plants

Nighttime Chorus of Garden Insects - Blog Post

Also featured in Episode 177 - Nighttime Chorus of Garden Insects

Weeding Mugwort – Picking up Litter- July 2022

Also featured in Episode 18 - Walking & Plalking, Queens & Bachelors

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

A walk along the Paulinskill Valley Trail leads Mary Stone down a memory trail of beloved dogs, changing paths, and how we adapt through seasons.

Memories of Sara—a tennis-ball-loving golden retriever who learned to play differently after two surgeries—lead back to the screen porch and a magnificent garden planted by Mother Nature.

We explore Jewelweed with exploding seeds and White Snakeroot that nourishes pollinators but has a toxic history. Plus sweeping colonies of Hay-scented Fern turning toward autumn yellow.

Then the memory trail returns to Miss Ellie Mae and Jolee, whose journey from a fearful rescue dog to a confident walking companion offers another lesson: sometimes a frightening road becomes familiar, and eventually we discover there is more than one way to go.

Different dogs. Different walks. Different chapters of a life. And still, the Garden of Life grows. 🌿🐾

Link to the Companion Post:A Memory Trail Through Nature’s Fall Palette

Connect with Mary Stone
Visit: https://askmarystone.com/
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com

Thank you for listening and for sharing the Garden of Life.🌻

Related Stories & Podcasts:

🐾 Miss Ellie Mae — My Unexpected Furry Messenger- Blog Post
Ellie's story is also featured in Episode 20, along with Father John's Memorial Garden.

🐾 Jolee — Merry Season of Love Over Fear - Blog Post
Jolee's early journey from fear toward trust is featured in Episode 37.

🌿 Last week's story —Ep 268: Finding Our Way Again Along the Paulins Kill

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

A trail closure sends Mary Stone and her rescue dog, Jolee, in another direction for a restful walk along the Paulinskill Valley Trail, where late-summer wildflowers, remnants of railroad history, and the reestablished Paulins Kill River offer a reflection on change and restoration.

Along the way, an old mile marker brings a profound, spirited lift. And memories of the former Paulina Dam, the river, surrounding landscape, and wildlife finding their way again remind us of life's transitions.

Sometimes a familiar path is closed, and all we can do is turn in another direction and keep walking to find our way again.

Enjoy the Comanion Post: Finding Our Way Again Along the Paulins Kill

Related Stories & Episodes:

Ep 267 A Not-So-Peachy Gel Dilemma

A Not-So-Peachy Gel Dilemma – Blog Post

Connect with Mary Stone
Visit: https://askmarystone.com/
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com

Thank you for listening and for sharing the Garden of Life.🌻

Related Posts and Podcasts:

Preservation of the Paulins Kill River – Blog Post

Ep 185. Preservation of the Paulins Kill - Overcoming Hardships

Helpful Links:

About the Paulina Dam Design/Removal

Restoring the Paulins Kill River

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

From sweet peas and peaches as terms of endearment to squirrels stealing the only peach on the tree, Mary Stone starts this week's garden chat on a playful note. Then a jelly-like peach-tree dilemma leads to gummosis, Cytospora canker, peach scab, and how stress and wounds can leave trees vulnerable to disease.

Mary revisits a similar weeping cherry dilemma and what trees can teach us about looking beneath the surface—where old wounds and stresses may affect what's trying to grow aboveground.

Sometimes, despite all our careful tending, the squirrel gets the peach. But there will be other seasons and other sweetness still to come. The same is true in our own Garden of Life.

Enjoy the Companion Blog Post: A Not-So-Peachy Gel Dilemma

Related Stories & Episodes:

Ep 266 — It's Not Too Late to Plant Again, Sweet Pea

It's Not Too Late to Plant Again — Blog Post

Ep 250 — Weeping Cherry Dilemmas: Trees Tell a Story

When a Weeping Cherry "Bleeds": What Lies Beneath — Blog Post

Ep 176 — Revisiting Cicadas and How Gardens Glow

Ep 133. Ripening Fall Tomato Hand-me-Downs

Ripening Fall Tomato Hand-me-Downs – Blog Post

Connect with Mary Stone
Visit: https://askmarystone.com/
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com

Thank you for listening and for sharing the Garden of Life.🌻

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

A neglected patch of vegetable garden, a disappointing spring harvest, and a few leftover seed packets inspire a late-season experiment—and a reminder that missed opportunities don’t always mean the season is over.

Mary Stone revisits an old “Sweet Pea” story while exploring fall crops of snow peas and beets, and discovers that sometimes we need to clear a little space, plant again, and see what happens in our gardens and in the Garden of Life.

Enjoy the companion Blog Post: It’s Not Too Late to Plant Again

Related Episodes you will enjoy:

Ep 265 - Tending What We Can in the Garden of Life

Ep 254 - Leave Room for Wandering: Unexpected Greenhouse Treasures

Ep 183 Honorable Harvest - Downsize Do-over

Hello Sweet Pea – Blog Post

Connect with Mary Stone
Visit: https://askmarystone.com/
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com

Thank you for listening and for sharing the Garden of Life.🌻

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

Sometimes we can't tend to everything at once.

Mary Stone shares her mission to manage the undesirable Mile-a-Minute weed and Japanese Stilt Grass, while heavy rains unexpectedly cleared the pond of favorable Duckweed.

Along the way, an old stone wall, resilient Blackberry Lilies, and newly visible frogs offer reminders that while we can't get to everything in our gardens—or our lives—we can tend what we can and let go of the rest.

Link to the Companion Blog Post: Tending What We Can in the Garden of Life

Related Episodes you will enjoy:

· Episode 177 — Nighttime Chorus of Garden Insects

· Episode 264 Another Lesson from the Leaf—Help Is on the Way

· Episode 107 — Mile-a-Minute Weed and Butterfly Magnets

· Episode 215 — The Tiny Wonder of Duckweed

· Episode 211 — Truth and Tale of Two Country Gardens

· Blackberry Lily & Soil Remediation Blog Post

A favorite "tool of the trade":

· Farmer's Defense — Garden Protection Sleeves

Connect with Mary Stone
Visit: https://askmarystone.com/
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com

Thank you for listening and for sharing the Garden of Life.🌻

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

What happens when life tests the very lessons we hope to live?

In this heartfelt episode, Mary Stone shares an emotionally difficult week that almost preempted the weekly chat. She invites listeners onto her screened porch, where a summer thunderstorm replaces the noisy cicadas, setting the stage for a conversation about acceptance, resilience, and hope.

Inspired by a recent Call to Calm meditation with Panache Desai, Mary reflects on the image of a single leaf surrendering to the wind and explores how embracing our emotions—rather than resisting them—can help us find peace.

Mary also shares an update on her book, The Lesson of the Leaf, and why one closed door has become the beginning of a new path.

Along the way, she revisits a favorite summertime story about the Dog Days of Summer and the curious origins of the phrase "sweating like a pig," bringing a few laughs to a humid August afternoon.

The episode closes with a heartfelt reflection on the love we share with our dogs, the pieces of our hearts they carry, and the reassurance that, even during life's hardest seasons, help is on the way.

Enjoy the Companion Post: Another Lesson from the Leaf: Help Is on the Way

🌿 Related Links

If you enjoyed today's reflection, you'll also enjoy my earlier Episode 234 Stillness Teaches Growth Through Nature, where winter's quiet offers another reminder that growth often begins when nothing appears to be happening.

Episode 263: Doing Nothing Is Everything: Wisdom from Nature & Gardens

Episode 69: The Origin of the Dog Days of Summer- (including the stories behind "Dog Days" and "Sweating Like a Pig")

Blog: The Origin of the Dog Days of Summer

Other helpful links:

Panache Desai free Call to Calm Meditations

Connect with Mary Stone
Visit: https://askmarystone.com/
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com

Thank you for listening and for sharing the Garden of Life.🌻

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

On a cool, humid summer morning from her screened porch, Mary Stone reflects on the richness of slowing down.

From a modest vegetable harvest and the gift of one perfectly ripe cherry tomato to birdwatching, fledgling birds, wandering goats, and the hidden life beneath our gardens, she discovers that doing nothing is often far from doing nothing at all.

Join Mary as she explores gratitude, presence, the wisdom found in simply noticing, and the many ways nature and gardens continue to nurture us—even when they don't produce as we'd hoped.

In this episode:

• Why a tiny garden harvest brought unexpected joy
• The hidden purpose of voles and poison ivy
• Birdwatching as a practice of presence
• Dennis Briede's inspiring "sit" tradition
• Garlic scapes, beet greens, and a little garden humor
• What nature and gardens teach us about patience, hope, and letting life unfold

Sometimes the greatest discoveries aren't found by doing more, but by slowing down long enough to notice what nature has been offering all along.

🌿 Related Links

• Ep 262 - Beneath the Surface: The Mystery of the Missing Roots
• Ep 34. Forest Bathing, Willowwood Champion Trees

Other helpful links:

• The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron (mentioned in the episode)
• 🐦 Cornell Lab of Ornithology – All About Birds
• Epic Gardening YouTube video
How to Grow Garlic | Garlic Scapes, Harvesting, & Curing

Connect with Mary Stone
Visit: https://askmarystone.com/
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com

Thank you for listening and for sharing the Garden of Life.🌻

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

A thriving rose suddenly becomes loose in the soil, revealing a mystery hidden beneath the mulch. What first appears to be Chipmunk Damage leads to a closer look—Voles, a likely culprit.

Mary Stone explores the differences between Moles and Voles, practical ways to protect treasured plants, and how gardens often remind us that what we see on the surface rarely tells the whole story.

“Sometimes the greatest lessons, in gardens and in life, begin when we dig a little deeper.”

In this episode:

• A garden mystery unfolds beneath a client's rose garden.
• Chipmunks, moles, and voles—who's really responsible?
• How hardware-cloth baskets can protect valuable roses and shrubs.
• Why poison is not an ideal solution.
• A white pine update with encouraging news.
• Reflections on accepting what we cannot control while tending what matters most.

Enjoy the Companion Blog Post: Beneath the Surface: The Mystery of the Missing Rose Roots

Related Episodes to Enjoy:

• Ep. 261 – Treasures from the Warwick NY Garden Tour
• Ep. 185 – Preservation of the Paulinskill: Overcoming Hardships - how tree tubes used in habitat restoration inspired another way to protect vulnerable plants from unseen damage below ground.
• Ep. 66 – Chipmunk Remedies and Legends
• Ep. 54 – Sharing Comfort & Dividing Perennials - including a heartfelt reflection about ‘The Boy, the mole, the fox and the Horse,’ illustrated and handwritten by Charlie Mackesy.

Connect with Mary Stone
Visit: https://askmarystone.com/
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com

Thank you for listening and for sharing the Garden of Life.🌻

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

What makes a garden unforgettable? Sometimes it's a rare plant or a beautiful pond. More often, it's the people behind the garden.

Join Mary Stone for a day exploring seven remarkable private gardens on the 32nd Annual Countryside Garden Tour, hosted by the Warwick Valley Gardeners.

Along the way, she meets passionate gardeners, discovers clever design ideas, learns about unusual plants, shares conversations with fellow garden lovers, and uncovers the stories that make each landscape unique.

Whether you enjoy touring gardens or appreciate the beauty and wisdom they offer, I invite you to come along for the journey.

Link to the Related Blog Post: Treasures from a Countryside Garden Tour

Related Episodes

🌿Episode 260 – The Flag and the Knot: Growing Forward Anyway

🌿 Episode 259 – What We Carry Forward in the Garden of Life

🌿 Episode 258 – The Gift of Noticing: A Dove Tree That Didn't Bloom

🌿 Episode 257 – Love Lovage: Treasures at Well-Sweep Herb Farm

🌿 Episode 256 – Lessons from Spiderwort and Crooked Trees

🌿 Ep. 22 – Lessons from Spruce and Forest Pansies of Hope (referenced in this episode during the discussion about Norway spruce)

Thank you to the Warwick Valley Gardeners, the homeowners who graciously opened their gardens, and my companions—Susan, Tara, Kathleen, and young Thomas—for making the day one to remember, Mary Stone

Connect with Mary Stone

Visit: https://askmarystone.com/

Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com

Thank you for listening and for sharing the Garden of Life.🌻

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

A "quick" Fourth of July project turned into an unexpected lesson in patience, perseverance, and letting go of perfection.

After years of waiting to paint an old flagpole, Mary Stone decides it's time to raise a new flag. What follows is a comedy of mystery knots, weathered rope, improvised repairs, and a reminder that life rarely unfolds under perfect conditions.

Along the way, she reflects on freedom, belonging, the wisdom of gardens, and how nature keeps moving forward despite imperfections. Plus, a brief update on a familiar garden nemesis—poison ivy.

In this episode:

• A Fourth of July flagpole adventure
• The lesson hidden in an old knot
• Why perfection can keep us stuck
• Gardens as teachers of resilience
• A poison ivy encounter

Enjoy the companion Blog Post: The Flag & the Knot – Growing Forward Anyway.

Related Episodes:

🌿 Episode 259 – What We Carry Forward in the Garden of Life
A reflection on memory, legacy, and the gifts we carry with us.

🌿 Episode 258 – The Gift of Noticing: A Dove Tree That Didn't Bloom
How beauty and meaning remain, even when expectations aren't met.

🌿 Episode 255 – Growing Belonging in the Garden of Life
Exploring our shared desire for connection, purpose, and belonging.

🌿 Ep 108. Value of Virginia Creeper vs. Poison Ivy

Connect with Mary Stone:

Visit: https://askmarystone.com/

Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com

Thank you for listening and for sharing the Garden of Life.🌻

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

In this Fourth of July episode, Mary reflects on a Victorian berry spoon gifted by a friend's son, a family table and long-forgotten letter from her father, a dear friend's journey to United States citizenship, and the lessons unfolding in the vegetable garden.

From heirlooms and promises to volunteer tomatoes and a bird building a nest, this episode explores the stories, values, and acts of kindness we carry forward from one generation to the next.

As we celebrate 250 years of our nation's history, may we pause to consider what we are planting, preserving, and passing on in our own Garden of Life.

"Without context, they're just objects. With context, they become vessels carrying pieces of our lives." — Mary Stone

Link to the Companion Blog Post: What We Carry Forward in the Garden of Life

Related Episodes:

🌿 Episode 258 – The Gift of Noticing: A Dove Tree That Didn't Bloom

🌿 Episode 255 – Growing Belonging in the Garden of Life

🌿 Episode 256 – Lessons from Spiderwort and Crooked Trees

🌿 Episode 257 – Love Lovage: Treasures at Well-Sweep Herb Farm

🌿Episode 28 – No-Till Gardening with Patti Doell of Little Big Farm

Connect with Mary Stone

Visit: https://askmarystone.com

Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com

Thank you for listening and for sharing the Garden of Life.🌻

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

On a humid morning after a much-needed rain, Mary Stone reflects on the celebration of the life of legendary New Jersey gardener and friend Marty Carson.

From stories of children helping to prepare the gardens to the remarkable tale of the Dove Tree (also known as the Handkerchief Tree) to an unexpected gift from Marty's son, this episode explores how gardens teach us to notice beauty, kindness, and one another.

Though beloved gardeners may pass, the gardens they create—and the lives they touch—continue to bloom.

Link to the Companion Post: The Gift of Noticing: A Dove Tree That Didn’t Bloom

Mentioned in this episode:

🌿 The Two Best Gardeners of the Garden State -Blog Post (June 8, 2017)

🌿 Extraordinary Gardeners, Extraordinary Plants - Blog Post (June 18, 2018)

🌿Episode 25 - Baobab Tree of Life: Growing Kindness

Quote from this episode:

"The Dove Trees didn't bloom this year. But they will. Gardens bloom again. Kindness blooms again. Love blooms again."

Thank you for listening and for sharing the Garden of Life.🌻

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

A visit to Well-Sweep Herb Farm in Warren County, New Jersey, leads to unexpected discoveries both in the garden and in life.

Mary Stone shares highlights from a tour with third-generation grower Patrick McDuffee, explores the beauty and lore of herbs such as Plantain, Scented Geraniums, Jewelweed, and Lovage, and reflects on the treasures often hidden in plain sight.

Back home, a thriving 'Jethro Tull' Coreopsis, gifted to her years ago by her dear friend Marty Carson, becomes a poignant reminder that love, friendship, and the lessons gathered along the way continue to bloom long after people leave our lives.

In This Episode

🌿 Touring Well-Sweep Herb Farm with Patrick McDuffee
🌿 Discovering the beauty of lovage
🌿 Plantain, jewelweed, and other herbal treasures
🌿 Native plants and Venus flytraps
🌿 Remembering Marty Carson through a blooming coreopsis
🌿 Finding unexpected treasures in the Garden of Life

Link to the Companion Blog Post: Love, Lovage & Treasures at Well-Sweep Farm

Thank you for joining me in the Garden of Life. 🌿💛

Related Episodes & Links

• Episode 217: Moth Surveying in a New Jersey Mountain Meadow
• Episode 157: Benefits of Plantain & Dandelions
• Episode 20: Unexpected Furry Messenger – Father John’s Memorial Garden
• Well-Sweep Herb Farm: https://wellsweep.com

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

Join Mary Stone as she reflects on Spiderwort, a native plant growing in the wrong place; a conversation with a dear client; the wisdom of the song "Crooked Tree"; and a reminder that what appears flawed or out of place may have a purpose we cannot yet see.

Along the way, Mary shares a brief update on her vegetable garden, a surprising use for carrot greens, and a favorite story from The Lesson of the Leaf about a beech leaf that landed on her shoulder just when she needed it most.

Link to the Related Blog Post: Lessons from Spiderwort and Crooked Trees

In this episode:

• When Spiderwort becomes too much of a good thing
• Why a troublesome plant may be exactly right somewhere else
• The wisdom behind the song Crooked Tree

"Spiderwort doesn't belong everywhere. But it belongs somewhere."

Thank you for sharing the Garden of Life. 🌿🍃🌳

Related Podcasts and Posts:

The Fall of the Leaf– Blog Post about the Prologue to The Lesson of the Leaf

Ep 83. The Fall of the Leaf

Growing Belonging in the Garden of Life - Blog

Ep 255 - Growing Belonging in the Garden of Life

Link to Molly Tuttle & Golden Highway’s song - Crooked Tree

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page

In this episode, Mary Stone shares an unexpected realization that emerged while revising her book proposal for The Lesson of the Leaf to Hay House Publishing. Along the way, she reflects on belonging, commitment, the wisdom of gardens, and the connections that sustain us through every season of life.

Plus, a garden update featuring radishes, sunflowers, clover, and a reminder that growth often happens beneath the shelter of something larger than ourselves.

Thanks for tuning in!

Link to Companion Post: Growing Belonging in the Garden of Life

Links to related Episodes and Blog Posts:

Forest Bathing Helps Loneliness - Blog Post

Ep 34. Forest Bathing, Willowwood Champion Trees

Overview of the Lesson of the Leaf– Blog Post

Ep 180 Overview of the Lesson of the Leaf

Thanks for listening and sharing in the Garden of Life. 🌻

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in, in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? https://askmarystone.com/
Direct Link to Podcast Page