Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries, Ask Mary Stone, New Jersey Garden blog
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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Mature Dove Tree (Davidia involucrata) in full leaf during summer after a spring freeze prevented flowering.

The Gift of Noticing: A Dove Tree That Didn’t Bloom

At Marty Carson's celebration of life, a Dove Tree that didn't bloom, a gardener's family, and an unexpected silver spoon offered a touching reminder that gardens teach us to notice beauty, kindness, and one another.
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Patrick McDuffee leading a tour through the formal herb garden at Well-Sweep Herb Farm.

Love, Lovage & Treasures at Well-Sweep Farm

A visit to Well-Sweep Herb Farm leads to unexpected discoveries, from towering lovage and herbal treasures to a poignant reminder of friendship, healing, and the lessons nature offers when we slow down long enough to listen.
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Mimi holding pots of red and yellow zinnias purchased for her foundation garden in Hope, New Jersey.

Lessons from Spiderwort and Crooked Trees

What began as a garden tune-up for a dear client became a wrestling match with Spiderwort—and a lesson about purpose, resilience, and life's winding paths. Our conversation and a song about a crooked tree revealed that what seems out of place today may have a purpose we cannot yet see
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Bitter melon vine growing in a greenhouse, one of several unusual vegetables discovered during a spring greenhouse visit.

Leave Room for Wandering: Unexpected Greenhouse Treasures

Leave room for wandering. What began as a trip to purchase annuals became a treasure hunt filled with unusual vegetables, greenhouse discoveries, practical planting tips, and a reminder that some of life's greatest treasures are found beyond what we originally came looking for.
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Mary Stone standing back-to-back with her Little Buddy beside a lake at Comfort Zone Camp.

Healing Beneath the Mayapple

A weekend at Comfort Zone Camp reveals healing beneath the Mayapple: the wisdom of the magical plant, reflections on loss, kindness, nature, and the courage of brave children healing from a loss of a family member to suicide.
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Large edible rhubarb growing in a mulched garden bed

Rhubarb Edible vs. Ornamental— Kindness Helps Heal

From the difference between edible rhubarb and ornamental rhubarb, from blooming tea to rhubarb custard pie, Mary Stone reflects on friendship, healing, and the beautiful ways kindness helps us grow through difficult seasons of life.
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fern fiddleheads unfurling in early spring garden showing healing after winter

Healing After Winter: In the Garden—and in Life

After a long winter, the garden begins to heal—revealing both damage and resilience. In this reflective post, I share spring pruning tips, plant care insights, and lessons from nature, reminding us to slow down, notice beauty, and find healing in the garden and in life.
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dog helping with early spring garden cleanup moving leaves on tarp

Early Spring Tending: What to Keep, What to Clear

As winter loosens its grip, early spring invites us to tend—clearing what’s too heavy, redistributing what can nourish, and making space for what’s ready to grow.
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