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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Do hard winters really curb “bad bugs”? A reader’s question opens the door to a deeper conversation about beneficial insects, plant diversity, and why harmony — not eradication — is the key to resilient gardens and balanced lives.

In winter’s stillness, reflections reveal what shadows alone cannot. From mirrored ponds to garden design and the quiet wisdom of roots beneath the soil, this post explores how nature teaches us about healing, self-awareness, and the promise of spring in the garden of life.