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: 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? AskMaryStone.com
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