Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries
Join columnist and garden designer Mary Stone in sharing Dilemmas, Delights, & Discoveries in the Garden of Life.
Ep 270 - To Weed or Not Weed Knotweed
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...
Ep 269 - A Memory Trail Through Nature’s Fall Palette
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...
Ep 268 - Finding Our Way Again Along the Paulins Kill
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...
Ep 267 - A Not-So-Peachy Gel Dilemma
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 wi...
Ep 266 - It’s Not Too Late to Plant Again, Sweet Pea
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 enj...
Ep 265 - Tending What We Can in the Garden of Life
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 Episode...
Ep 264 - Another Lesson from the Leaf: Help Is on the Way
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...
Ep 263 - Doing Nothing and Everything: Wisdom from Nature & Gardens
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 thi...
Ep 262 - Beneath the Surface: The Mystery of the Missing Roots
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...Ep. 261 – Treasures from the Warwick, NY Garden Tour
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 c...
Ep 260 - The Flag & the Knot – Growing Forward Anyway
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...
Ep 259 - What We Carry Forward in the Garden of Life
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...
Ep 258 - The Gift of Noticing: A Dove Tree that Didn't Bloom
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:
Ep 257 - Love, Lovage & Treasures at Well-Sweep Farm
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 a...
Ep 256 - Lessons from Spiderwort and Crooked Trees
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...
Ep 255 - Growing Belonging in the Garden of Life
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 Ep...
Ep 254 - Leave Room for Wandering: Unexpected Greenhouse Treasures
In this episode, Mary Stone shares a spring greenhouse adventure that begins with shopping for annuals and vegetables and turns into a delightful journey of unexpected discoveries.
Along the way, she reflects on a bear emerging from a patch of skunk cabbage, bird nests tucked among flowering shrubs, a mysterious hornet visitor, and the wisdom that can emerge when we leave room for wandering.
Mary also offers practical tips for selecting healthy annuals and creating beautiful kitchen gardens filled with flowers, herbs, and vegetables.
Perhaps one of life's greatest lessons is this...
Ep 253 - Healing Beneath Mayapple: Skunk Cabbage Wisdom
Mary Stone shares reflections from a deeply meaningful weekend serving as a Big Buddy at Comfort Zone Camp for children grieving the loss of a parent or sibling to suicide.
Through stories of Mayapple, Skunk Cabbage, Barred Owls, Nesting Birds, and an unforgettable Black Bear encounter near the creek, this episode explores Healing, Resilience, Emotional Courage, and the Wisdom Waiting Beneath the Surface of the Natural World.
Along the way, Mary revisits earlier podcast stories about Mayapple folklore, Ken Roberts' beautiful song Mandrakes, and the remarkable lessons hidden within even the most unusual woodland plants.
<...Ep 252 - Edible vs. Ornamental Rhubarb — Kindness Helps Heal
This week, from the screen porch, Mary Stone shares reflections on edible versus ornamental rhubarb—both unusual, delightful, and deer-resistant additions to the garden. She also shares stories of rhubarb custard pie, overwintered parsley, blooming tea, pole beans, and other decorative vegetables woven among flower gardens.
The episode wraps up with reflections on healing through friendship and community. And the garden lessons found in allowing others to help us through difficult seasons of life. 🌿
Link to the Companion Blog Post: Rhubarb Edible vs. Ornamental— Kindness Helps Heal
🔗 Links to Related Posts and Podcasts: <...
Ep 251 - A Changing Gardens Teaches What Belongs
What a Changing Garden Teaches - Finding What Belongs
Sometimes what we see as a problem is simply a message.
While visiting a longtime client in Sparta, New Jersey, Mary Stone reflects on shifting conditions in our landscapes—from struggling rhododendrons and declining pachysandra to the beauty and wisdom of moss. Along the way, she revisits an old dilemma—ants in a mossy patio—with a fresh perspective shaped by time, experience, and a growing appreciation for nature’s balance.
Link to the Companion Post: What a Changing Garden Teaches
🔗 Lin...
Ep 250 - Weeping Cherry Dilemmas: Trees Tell a Story
A weeping cherry tree begins to “bleed,” revealing what lies beneath—from soil stress to planting missteps. Plus, seed-starting tips and a reflection on where we’re truly meant to grow.
In this episode, I share what gummosis can tell us about tree health and planting practices, and why repeated plant failure in the same spot deserves a closer look.
We also revisit how weeping cherry trees are grafted, what reversion means, and how to care for them thoughtfully.
Along the way, I share a few clever seed-planting techniques from listeners and a small corr...
Ep 249 - Living Mulch: Layering with Native Plants
Replacing mulch with living layers that nourish soil, support wildlife, and gently teach us patience.
What if you could stop mulching—and let plants do the work instead?
In this episode, we explore “living mulch” with native groundcovers and layered plantings that support soil, wildlife, and a self-sustaining garden. Along the way: spring planting timing, a client story, and a gentle reminder—plants sleep, creep, then leap.
🌱 Related Episodes
If you’d like to dig a little deeper, these earlier episodes pair beautifully with today’s conversation:
· Ep 247: Leaf Mo...
Ep 248 - Healing After Winter: In the Garden—and in Life
After a harsh winter, Mary Stone reflects on healing in the garden and in life—sharing spring pruning tips, plant care insights, and a humorous tale of “hotdog flies”—all woven with a gentle reminder to slow down, notice beauty, and make room for joy.
Link to the Companion Post: Healing After Winter: In the Garden—and in Life
Links to related Podcasts and Posts:
Ep. 92: The Secret Life of Pinecones
Ep 155. Spacing Plants and Splendid Smokebush
Blog Post: Rejuvenation Pruning & Smokebush<...
Ep 247 - Nothing Is Wasted: Leaf Mold, Mulch & Letting Go
As spring unfolds, I find myself reflecting on what remains, what falls away, and what—over time—returns to nourish us again.
In this episode, I share a walk in the woods that took an unexpected turn, along with listeners’ questions about using leaves or wood chips in the garden. From there, we explore the benefits of leaf mold versus traditional mulch—how to make it, when to use it, and why it may be one of nature’s most generous gifts.
With Easter upon us—a season that holds endings and beginnin...
Ep 246 - Early Spring Tending: What to Keep, What to Clear
Sometimes tending isn’t about removing—it’s about redistributing, restoring, and making space for what’s ready to grow.
As winter loosens its grip, early spring invites us to tend—clearing what’s too heavy, redistributing what can nourish, and making space for what’s ready to grow.
In this episode, I share what I’m learning as I step into full groundskeeping—raking matted leaves, supporting soil recovery, and embracing a “tapestry lawn” of violets, clover, plantain, and dandelions.
We explore:
· When leaves help—and when th...
Ep 245 - What the Roadside Reveals: Lesson of Belief
A roadside walk becomes a lesson in tending what doesn’t belong—and trusting what quietly blooms.
From plogging to snowdrops, this episode explores how small actions and nature’s signs guide us back to hope, healing, and the “lesson of belief.”
In this episode, Mary Stone shares how a roadside walk became a lesson in tending both the outer and inner worlds. What began as noticing litter turned into a practice of care—picking up what doesn’t belong, much like weeding the undesirables in the garden of life.
Along...
Ep 244 - A Late Winter Walk to Remember
Some walks stay with us long after they end.
A quiet rainy walk through the late-winter woods becomes a meditation on healing, hope, and nature’s wisdom. On a misty morning, Mary Stone and her faithful companion, Jolee, head into the forest, where the rhythm of rain and the stillness of the trees create space for reflection.
Inspired by an earlier column, March Folklore of Hope, Mary reflects on weather sayings passed through generations, the promise of snowdrops pushing through winter’s frost, and the reminder that storms even...
Ep 243 - Native vs. Invasive: Who Decides?
What does “native” really mean — and who decides?
In this episode of Garden Dilemmas, Mary Stone explores native vs. invasive plants, urban gardens, biodiversity, and ecosystem balance.
From dandelions to the marmorated stink bug, this episode reflects on what belonging means in a rapidly changing landscape. Inspired by Point State Park in Pittsburgh and the writings of Peter Del Tredici, Mary examines novel ecosystems, adaptation, and how urban environments balance native and non-native plants.
A thoughtful look at nature, resilience, and coexistence.
Link to the...
Ep 242 - Inviting Beneficial Garden Guests
Do hard winters curb garden pests? A listener’s question about whether cold weather reduces “bad bugs” leads to a deeper conversation about beneficial insects, biological control, and sustainable pest management.
In this episode, Mary Stone shares insights from the NJ Nursery & Landscape Association’s Total Pro Expo, exploring why most insects belong in our ecosystems and how predator-prey relationships naturally regulate pest populations.
She discusses the importance of native plants, plant diversity, layered landscape design, and nectar-rich flowers in supporting pollinators and beneficial insects.
Nature reminds us that ...
Ep 241 - Reflections in the Garden of Life
On a slowly thawing winter day, Mary Stone reflects on the relationship between shadows and reflections—in nature, in garden design, and in the tender landscape of the heart.
From Jolee's curious moment at the storm door to the science of the mirror test, from still water in gardens to the hidden wisdom in roots shaped by difficult seasons, this episode explores how gentle awareness can transform survival into growth.
Thanks for tuning in!
Enjoy the Photos on the Companion Blog Post:
Reflections in the Garden of Li...
Ep 240 - Nature’s Shadows, Outlines of Love
In winter’s long light, shadows reveal more than darkness—they outline memory, love, and quiet hope. Mary reflects on Groundhog Day, Peter Pan’s lost shadow, Jung’s shadow self, and the beauty of moonlit snow, weaving garden wisdom with personal healing. From plant care to letting go, this episode explores how light and shadow together shape resilience, reminding us that even in sorrow, hope gently walks beside us.
Link to the Companion Blog Post: Nature’s Shadows: Outlines of Love & Hope
Thanks for tuning in!
Rel...
Ep 239 - What Yellow Leaves Teach Us
What Yellow Leaves Teach Us
Tending houseplants—and hearts—through seasons of change.
Yellow leaves on a fiddle-leaf fig often point to watering issues—but they can also offer deeper lessons. In this episode, Mary Stone explores common houseplant dilemmas, from root-bound money trees to yellowing leaves and sneaky pests, while sharing a tender personal chapter. Through gardening wisdom and lived experience, she reflects on patience, balance, and how tending plants can help us tend our hearts during times of transition.
Thank you for tuning in!
Compan...
Ep 238 - Hope Takes the Form of a Tree
In this episode, Mary Stone reflects on the wisdom of trees after receiving the New Jersey Tree Survey from the Arbor Day Foundation. She explores how trees support mental and emotional well-being, the realities behind tree-planting campaigns, and the value of nurturing growth over time.
A flashback to a fallen Eastern Hemlock and a thriving young beech offers a gentle reminder that even after loss, new life emerges. Hope, it turns out, sometimes takes the form of a tree.
Thanks for Tuning In!
Related Episodes and Posts:
Hope in th...
Ep 237 - Roofs to Roots: Reviving Houseplants
Mary Stone discusses the benefits of using rainwater and snowmelt for indoor plants and how to revive houseplants in duress. She explores the quiet wisdom of water through stories of Christmas cacti, Jolee's water bowl, and flowing streams, and reflects on patience, renewal, and trusting life's natural flow.
Thanks for tuning in!
Related Episodes and Posts:
Harvesting Rainwater & Snowmelt Wisdom - Blog Post
Ep 89. Wisdom in the Rhythm of Water
Wisdom in the Rhythm of Water – Blog Post
Houseplants in...
Ep 236 - What We Release, What We Grow
Mary Stone reflects on releasing what no longer serves us and setting intentions that grow in their own time, inspired by nature's rhythms and a New Year water ceremony hosted by Rev. Dr. Christina Tillotson. Through garden metaphors and personal insights, she reminds us that what we let go of creates space for quiet, lasting growth.
Thank you for tuning in!
Link for more about Rev. Dr. Christina Tillotson
Link to Companion Blog Post: What We Release, What We Grow
Related Podcasts and Blog Posts you'll enjoy:
E...
Ep 235. What Nature and Gardens Gifted Us
Mary Stone reflects on lessons learned from a year of observation in the garden and wild places beyond it. From copperheads and moths to healing land and personal change, she explores how slowing down, trusting nature, and paying attention to what often goes unseen can lead to growth, understanding, and quiet transformation.
Thanks for Tuning In!
Link to the Companion Blog Post: What Nature & Gardens Taught Us
🌿 Featured Podcasts and Posts:
Ep 234. Stillness Teaches Growth Through Nature
Stillness Teaches Growth Through Nature – Blog
Ep 221. Cu...
Ep 234. Stillness Teaches Growth Through Nature
Mary Stone reflects on the wisdom of stillness as an essential part of growth. Through nature’s rhythms and garden observations, she explores how healing and transformation often unfold unseen, offering a gentle preview of themes in Part Two of her forthcoming book, The Lesson of the Leaf.
“Stillness isn’t a pause — it’s where growth quietly begins.”
Thanks for Tuning in!
Link to the related posts and podcast:
Stillness Teaches Growth Through Nature -- Blog Post
Overview of The Lesson of the L...
Ep 233. When the Garden Teaches Letting Go
A winter garden project leads Mary Stone to reflect on invasive plants, memorial trees, and the tender wisdom of knowing when it’s time to let go—both in gardens and in life.
This episode is a gentle reminder that healing, like gardening, is an ongoing practice—rooted in observation, compassion, and trust in nature’s rhythm.
Thanks for Tuning In!
Related Posts and Podcasts you'll Enjoy.
The Garden Teaches Letting Go - Blog
Ep 61. A Story of Treasured Tuliptrees / Treasured Tulip Trees - Blog<...
Ep 232. Late Season Tasks into Décor and Healing
Mary Stone reflects on late-season garden projects, including the removal of old telephone poles and the careful harvesting of boulders for new retaining walls—done with deep respect for the surrounding ecosystem. She shares tips for planting perennials with liner plugs, using Stress X to support transplanted shrubs, and managing fallen leaves to benefit both wildlife and soil health.
Weaving garden wisdom with seasonal reflection, Mary Stone shares her tradition of decorating with roadside finds, turning late-fall garden tasks into natural holiday décor while honoring the beauty of gathering gently and...
Ep 231. Three Seasons Tribute to Ongoing Growth
Mary Stone reflects on the life and legacy of her dear friend and design colleague, Marty Carson, who recently passed away. She shares memories of their collaboration and the impact of Marty's wisdom and generosity on the gardening community, including a lecture they gave on deer-resistant gardening, which shared humorous and effective methods to deter deer. Mary concludes with personal updates on her own garden and a poem by Rumi, emphasizing gratitude and the beauty of nature.
Thanks for Tuning in!
Related Podcasts and Posts you'll Enjoy:
Two Best Gardeners of t...
