Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries, Ask Mary Stone, New Jersey Garden blog
Historic JC 81 railroad milepost beside the wooded Paulinskill Valley Trail and Paulins Kill

Finding Our Way Again Along the Paulins Kill

A walk along the Paulinskill Valley Trail brings railroad history, memories of the Paulina Dam, and lessons about restoration, resilience, and finding our way again.
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Amber-colored gum oozing from a wound on a peach tree branch

A Not-So-Peachy Gel Dilemma

What do a peach-stealing squirrel, jelly-like gummosis, and old wounds have in common? A not-so-peachy garden dilemma offers lessons about tree health, resilience, and what may be happening beneath the surface.
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Freshly harvested Red Baron beets with leafy greens and one small carrot.

It’s Not Too Late to Plant Again

A neglected vegetable garden, leftover seeds, and a disappointing spring harvest reveal unexpected possibilities for fall planting—and a reminder that it’s not too late to begin again.
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Pulled mile-a-minute weed spread on a sunny driveway beside a garden cart, with Jolee nearby.

Tending What We Can in the Garden of Life

Mile-a-minute and Japanese stilt grass have taken hold in parts of my woodland, while heavy rains unexpectedly cleared the duckweed from my pond. Amid the weeds, ferns, an old stone wall, and Blackberry Lilies offer a reminder: We aren't meant to tend everything at once.
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Heart-shaped fallen leaf covered with raindrops among autumn oak leaves

Another Lesson from the Leaf: Help Is on the Way

Life has a way of testing the very lessons we've grown to believe. A leaf in the wind brings another lesson about acceptance, letting go, love, and trusting that help is on its way.
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A modest summer garden harvest with green beans, one cherry tomato, and Malabar spinach leaves.

Doing Nothing and Everything: Wisdom from Nature & Gardens

What if doing nothing is actually one of the most important things we can do? A modest vegetable harvest, one perfect cherry tomato, birdwatching, and peaceful moments in the garden remind Mary Stone that slowing down often reveals life's greatest gifts.
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Front foundation garden with pink roses, boxwood hedge, and layered landscape plantings.

Beneath the Surface: The Mystery of the Missing Rose Roots

A healthy rose suddenly became loose in the soil, revealing a mystery beneath the mulch. What first appeared to be chipmunk damage led to an unexpected culprit, solutions for protecting treasured plants, and a reminder that gardens—and life—often invite us to look beneath the surface.
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Young Thomas taking careful steps through a shallow pond while exploring a garden.

Treasures from a Countryside Garden Tour

A summer day spent touring seven gardens in Warwick, New York, became a joyful reminder that the greatest treasures aren't always the plants—they're the people, stories, generosity, and connections that grow alongside them.
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Jolee standing beside a folded American flag in a garden bordered by large stone boulders

The Flag & the Knot – Growing Forward Anyway

A simple Fourth of July project turned into an unexpected lesson about perfection, progress, and moving forward anyway. What began as raising a flag became a story of mystery knots, laughter, poison ivy, and the wisdom Mother Nature offers in the Garden of Life.
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Antique silver spoon engraved with the name Mary resting on a houseplant.

What We Carry Forward in the Garden of Life

From a Victorian berry spoon and a treasured letter to a friend's citizenship oath, reflections on belonging, gratitude, and the stories we carry forward in the Garden of Life.
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