Hello fellow lovers of all things green,
On a glorious autumn afternoon, Jolee and I ventured to one of my favorite places for meditative walks among the trees—Mohican Outdoor Center in Blairstown, New Jersey. What began as a peaceful woodland outing turned into a Halloween adventure, complete with creepy creatures, a masked murderer, and a joyful reminder that nature offers comfort when we need it most.
Sunshine filters through the trees along Camp Road, welcoming visitors.
Autumn Beauty at Mohican Outdoor Center
Despite the lackluster autumn colors elsewhere, the foliage surrounding Camp Mohican was glorious. Golds, oranges, and reds glowed against the evergreens.
As we drove toward camp, a sign announcing “Haunted Trails” caught my eye. I wondered what that was about.
We parked at the base of Camp Road and walked uphill alongside the cascading mountain stream. I cherish the sights and sounds of water moving over rocks. Every season has a different song—slow trickles during dry times, racing tides after heavy rains, and frozen sculptures in winter, with water cascading through them. Then comes the roaring sounds of ice moving during the spring melt.
While walking up the steep slope, visitors passed by, returning from their adventures, some from hikes along the Appalachian Trail that rises above the camp. I’ve visited Mohican for years and have been a member of the Appalachian Mountain Club since moving to the area. The camp feels like home.
Jolee encounters a ghost and a dragon along the Haunted Trails.
Halloween Creatures Among the Trees
Now these are creepy! Give me smiling pumpkins and friendly ghosts instead!
Beyond the lodge, Jolee and I veered toward the woodland trails, where creepy creatures greeted us.
I always giggle over people’s fascination with Halloween decorations. My previous rescue, Miss Ellie Mae, feared the haunted yard art we encountered on our morning walks. Jolee, however, is curious about most everything.
A green dragon stood out against the woodland setting, while dangling ghosts and goblins blended into the shadows, creating an eerie atmosphere. Then came the disturbing scenes—skeletons chained to metal grates, skulls scattered below them, and a collection of creepy dolls. Some were downright gruesome, and I can’t say I enjoyed looking at them.
The colorful carnival was my favorite part of the show. A red-topped tent with blue sides offered “Free Hugs.” Thankfully, nobody was inside!
Free hugs, anyone? Jolee wasn’t the least bit intimidated by the haunted carnival. I wasn’t about to enter that tent!
A cheerful-looking clown stood nearby, although I suspect he might not be so cheerful after dark. Jolee’s red harness matched the carnival colors beautifully. She looked as though she belonged to the entertainment troupe.
Mystery Solved
As we continued, I marveled at the work that went into transforming these peaceful woods into a spooky playground; folks spent considerable time arranging these creatures among the trees, and I wondered who did it.
The forest floor was keeping an eye on us. :^)
Then I spotted a discarded ticket among the fallen leaves. It revealed the displays were part of the Appalachian Mountain Club’s Haunted Trails event. Mystery solved!
A little farther along, an eyeball lying among the autumn leaves caught my attention. A fake one, of course! I laughed at the thought of the forest floor watching us.
When Toxic Waste Becomes a Garden Fright
Now that’s frightening! It reminds me of chemicals used unnecessarily in gardens and landscapes.
Near the nature center, a display warned of “Toxic Waste.” Bright green and orange blobs bubbled from barrel-sized containers. Now that’s frightening!
I feel the same way about unnecessary chemical use in crop fields, gardens, and landscapes. As a landscape and garden designer, I prefer working with nature rather than against it. Choosing plants—especially natives—suited to their growing conditions, encouraging healthy soil, and welcoming beneficial insects can reduce the need for chemical interventions.
Jolee Meets Jason at Catfish Pond
At Catfish Pond, a red canoe held a masked figure resembling Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th. The original movie was filmed nearby at Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco in Hardwick, with scenes in Blairstown and Hope.
A masked visitor inspired by Friday the 13th waits in a canoe at Catfish Pond. Little did he know Jolee would nearly send him sailing!
Oblivious to the lurking menace, Jolee jumped into the pond for a dip and a drink. Maneuvering behind the canoe, she tangled her retractable leash beneath it. There I was, getting close and personal with a masked murderer while attempting to free my dog by unclipping her leash. I nearly toppled the fellow into the water!
Fortunately, the canoe was tied to shore. Otherwise, Jason might have sailed away. How embarrassing that would have been to confess the situation to the camp manager!
Once untangled, Jolee celebrated her freedom with exuberant zoomies, racing between the trees with the finesse of an award-winning agility dog. Her rear end tucked beneath her as she rounded corners, accelerating with sheer delight.
Her joy was contagious.
Finding Joy Amid the Ghosts of Grief
Sundays can be melancholy for me these days. The ending of a long relationship a year ago still brings waves of sadness. Sometimes, the solitude of Sunday afternoons, once shared with family, lets memories surface, along with grief for what was lost and what might have been.
Grief can sneak up on us, like those Halloween creatures hidden among the trees. But watching Jolee’s uninhibited happiness lifted my spirits. She wasn’t worried about yesterday or tomorrow. She was living in the present, delighted to be running free.
Dogs are remarkable teachers.
Heart-Shaped Stones and the Lesson of the Leaf
Beneath a beloved pine overlooking Catfish Pond, Jolee and I find a peaceful place to reflect, remember, and let go.
We then headed to our favorite swimming spot, where a grand scrub pine hovers over Catfish Pond, bringing back memories of the months following my brother Bill’s passing. I collected heart-shaped stones along the trails and tucked them into a nook in the pine’s trunk. I call them “Bill Stones.”
Those little treasures comforted me during difficult days. It was as though nature offered tiny reminders that love remains even when someone we cherish is no longer physically by our side. I still gather heart-shaped stones that seem to pop out from the others when I visit Camp Mohican.
Standing beside Jolee, her soggy head awaiting pets, I gazed across Catfish Pond. Bare branches on nearby trees framed a tree still holding its reddish autumn leaves, the tranquil water mirroring the scene. The contrast felt sacred. Some trees had already let go of their leaves, while another held on a little longer.
The serenity of Catfish Pond, where autumn reflections bring memories, comfort, and the wisdom of letting go.
I picked up an oak leaf and released it along the shoreline, remembering Bill’s Lesson of the Leaf—the wisdom of letting go when the time comes.
Of course, letting go doesn’t mean forgetting. It doesn’t erase love, memories, or the importance of those who have shaped our lives. Letting go means loosening our grip on hurts we can no longer change, making room for new experiences and moments of joy. Of drop-butt zoomies through the woods. Right, Jolee?
Returning to the Woods
That’s why I return to these woods. Among the trees, there’s room for laughter, sadness, memories, and healing—a place to let go of the ghosts of losses and hurts that still weigh on our hearts. This time, a little Halloween mischief along the trails reminds us that joy waits around the next bend.
Trees ask nothing of us. They stand through the seasons, weathering storms, shedding what they no longer need, and preparing for new growth. And a rescue dog racing joyfully through the forest shows us that happiness can return.
Whether you prefer gruesome goblins or smiling ghosts and pumpkins, I hope this Halloween season brings you laughter, wonder, and a peaceful walk among the trees.
Perhaps you’ll even find a heart-shaped stone.
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com or tune in on your favorite podcast app.
Prefer to listen? 🎧 There’s more to the story in the Garden Dilemmas Delights & Discoveries Podcast:
Sycamore Ghosts in Hope Township, NJ
👻 For more Halloween history and some much friendlier ghosts, enjoy Halloween’s History & Sycamore Ghosts, featuring a magnificent sycamore in Hope, New Jersey.
Link to learn more about Mohican Outdoor Center, Blairstown, NJ
