🍂 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: 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? 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.

👻 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? 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? AskMaryStone.com
Direct Link to Podcast Page