Hello, fellow lovers of all things green.
On a recent day off, I did something many people love to do—but I rarely take the time to do it myself. I went on a garden tour.
Garden tours are always more enjoyable when shared with friends. Tara, Kathleen, Susan, Thomas, and I were ready for a day of discoveries.
What began as a delightful outing became another reminder that gardens are never just about plants. They are about people, generosity, creativity, resilience, and community.
Together with Tara and Kathleen—both clients who have become friends—and my friend Susan, I attended the 32nd Annual Countryside Garden Tour hosted by the Warwick Valley Gardeners.
Established in 1992, the club has spent more than three decades creating educational programs and community projects. Their annual tour has become a cherished tradition, drawing visitors from throughout the region.
I was especially excited because the tour was held in Warwick, New York—a place I remember hearing about from my mom. Growing up on a farm near Pine Bush, Warwick was considered “the big city” by comparison. During the nineteenth century, it became known for its rich farmland and apple orchards, and later attracted artists and visitors seeking the beauty of the Hudson Valley.
It truly is a beautiful place.
Hillside Heaven—and a Petunia in a Milk Carton
The tour began on the Village Green, where patriotic containers overflowing with red, white, and blue blooms welcomed visitors. Before long, our wristbands were on, and we were headed to our first stop: Hillside Heaven, the garden of Lenora and Paul.
Lenora & Paul: Meeting the gardeners behind the gardens is always one of my favorite parts of every tour.
As I wandered through the gardens, I asked Paul whether he had helped.
“I dig,” he replied.
His simple answer made me laugh. When I asked Lenora how she became interested in gardening, she smiled and said,
“In school, I grew a petunia in a milk carton.”
Imagine a lifetime passion beginning with a milk carton and a petunia. I always enjoy hearing how gardeners got their start. If you’d like to share your story, I’d love to hear from you.
Lenora also mentioned that she enjoys watching Gardeners’ World, the beloved BBC gardening program that follows gardeners through the seasons.
Before the tour, I had heard Lenora had suffered a mild injury and hadn’t been able to garden for several weeks. She reached out to fellow garden club members, and when I arrived, I could see the evidence of their kindness—bags of mulch, fresh finishing touches, and a beautiful stepping-stone path leading toward the pool garden.
Her garden was magnificent, but what struck me most was the generosity of others who helped make it show-ready.
Plants, Questions, and Unexpected Conversations
As we explored the front gardens, my friends began asking me to identify various plants. Soon, other visitors joined in. One woman pointed to an evergreen groundcover.
“What is that?”
Microbiota, a favored evergreen groundcover shrub, is a feathery alternative to mulch.
“Microbiota,” I answered. “I often use it as an alternative to creeping juniper. It has a softer texture and doesn’t poke you in the back while you’re working around it.”
One question led to another. Finally, someone asked, “Why do you know so much about plants?”
It made me smile. There were many knowledgeable gardeners there, but the conversations allowed me to share what I do through Stone Associates and the Garden Dilemmas podcast.
As I talked with Lenora and Paul, I shared that the podcast isn’t only about gardening—it’s about how nature and gardens help us heal and grow physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
“Indeed it does,” Lenora said, her smile radiated restored health.
Pond Paradise illustrates what time, imagination, and a willingness to keep moving plants can accomplish.
Every Garden Has Its Own Personality
Each stop revealed a different expression from the gardeners who created it.
Pond Paradise, owned by Laurie and Kevin, featured more than fifteen garden beds developed since 2001. The brochure noted with humor: “Patience is not Laurie’s virtue, as plants have been relocated many times.”
Tara laughed immediately. She is known for moving plants. Her husband likes to remind her that plants don’t have wheels. They have roots.
Zen Simplicity
Thomas is experiencing a garden one careful step at a time.
Perhaps the most memorable garden belonged to Patty and Dennis and was titled Zen Simplicity. Inspired by Asian garden design and Dennis’s military service in Vietnam, the landscape reflected serenity through subtle colors, carefully chosen plants, and graceful simplicity.
Dennis built the original pond himself before it was later renovated by Tom Smith of Garden State Koi—the very first pond Tom ever renovated, before he grew his successful business.
A secluded meditation garden, and perhaps the cleverest potting shed I’ve ever seen, completed the experience. It even featured a fold-down potting bench, leaving me with shed envy.
Wonder Through a Child’s Eyes
One of my favorite moments of the day. Childhood wonder surrounded by flowers and pollinators dancing.
One of the sweetest moments came when Kathleen’s young grandson, Thomas, carefully tiptoed through the shallow edge of the pond while she held his hands. Watching him discover the garden, one careful step at a time, reminded me of how magical gardens are through the eyes of a child.
Our fourth stop was Tranquil Resilience, owned by Regina and Bill. The garden was alive with pollinators. Bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects were everywhere. A little girl carrying a toy camera became fascinated with Thomas and happily photographed him while her mother photographed the moment. The innocence of childhood paired with the beauty of a pollinator garden was simply delightful.
Gardens Grow One Plant at a Time
Cassie and John, creators of Woodland Whimsey.
One of our favorite stops was Woodland Whimsey, owned by Cassie and John. I admired the island beds scattered throughout the lawn, assuming they had all been carefully planned.
Cassie laughed.
“I see a plant I like. John asks where I’m going to put it. I tell him I don’t know. Then I come home and create a new spot.”
Apparently, John’s current job description is digging holes.
Does anyone recognize this unusual plant with its square stems and fascinating blooms? I’d love to hear from you!
There were fascinating plants throughout the garden, including one with unusual square stems that appeared to have a flower growing out of another flower. Cassie had started it from seed, but I neglected to write down its name. If you know what it is, I’d love to hear from you.
Dreaming of a Woodland Home
The sixth garden, Woodland Serenity, belonged to Jackie and Rob. Nestled among mature trees overlooking Highland Lakes, it felt secluded and peaceful. I’ve often dreamed of living in a log cabin surrounded by woodland gardens. This property was exactly that dream.
Throughout the gardens, Jackie had tucked beautifully hand-painted rocks—each one a tiny work of art. As I glanced through the storm door into the rustic interior, I caught my reflection in the glass and smiled. I looked perfectly at home there. It’s always good to dream.
Woodland Serenity felt exactly like the woodland retreat I’ve often dreamed about.
Garden Magic Doesn’t Require Grand Scale
The final stop was Bear Crossing’s Cottage Garden, owned by Paula and Jim. Jim, an architect, shared photographs documenting the remarkable transformation of their home and gardens. One feature especially captured my imagination—a tabletop pond complete with goldfish, moss, and a gentle waterfall. Its footprint was modest, yet it reminded me that garden magic doesn’t depend on size.
Bear Crossing Cottage Garden: Every garden reflected the personality and passions of the people who created it.
Sometimes the smallest ideas create the greatest delight.
The Greatest Treasure
Friends sometimes ask why I would spend a day off visiting gardens. “Doesn’t it feel like work?”
The answer is easy. No. It brings joy to spend time with friends, clients who have become friends, generous gardeners willing to share their stories, successes, and even their mistakes, and to take advantage of countless opportunities to learn.
Every garden held treasures—not only beautiful plants but stories, kindness, creativity, and connection. That’s what I treasure most. Because gardening has never been just about plants, trees, or the changing seasons, it’s about how the cycles of nature mirror our own lives, offering hope, healing, and love.
And when we open our gardens to others, we remind one another that beauty grows best in community.
Thank you to the Warwick Valley Gardeners and every homeowner who welcomed us so graciously. The gardens were beautiful. But it’s the people who made them unforgettable.
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com or tune in on your favorite Podcast App.
Prefer to Listen?
This story is also a feature in this week’s episode of Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries, with additional reflections from the screen porch:
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🌿 Ep. 260 – The Flag and the Knot: Growing Forward Anyway
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🌿 Ep. 258 – The Gift of Noticing: A Dove Tree That Didn’t Bloom
