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: 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
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: 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
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: 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
Direct Link to Podcast Page