Hello, fellow lovers of all things green, Happy New Year! A new year feels like an ideal time to pause and reflect on the path we’ve walked together, noticing what has grown—not just in our gardens, but within us.
Curiosity Over Fear: A Copperhead’s Lesson
One story that stood out was Curious Copperhead Encounters. On the surface, it was a story about a snake—one many people fear—but as often happens, the garden had more in mind. After that column ran, a woman stopped me on the side of the road as I was walking Jolee. She told me she had always been afraid of snakes, but after reading the story, she found herself seeing them differently.
Copperhead-by-Blaine-Rothauser
She was fascinated by how the copperhead flattened its body as a defense mechanism, making itself appear larger. “I realized that wasn’t such a bad way to respond when you’re afraid,” she said. “Instead of panicking or lashing out—just pause.” That insight stayed with me.
Trusting the Unseen Work Beneath Our Feet
That same spirit of observation carried through many of last year’s topics. We talked about soil, leaf litter, fungi, and the unseen networks beneath our feet. But really, those conversations were about trust.
A listener favorite was Healing from Hyper-Humus Peat Mining. We explored acres of land once heavily harvested for peat, not far from where we live. The land looked irreparably damaged, yet with the help of Mother Nature, conservationists, and committed neighbors, healing is underway. What struck me most wasn’t just the science—it was the patience. Nature wasn’t rushed. The soil wasn’t forced. Healing happened layer by layer.
That story gives us hope that if land so altered can begin to recover, perhaps other damage we’ve done to our dear Earth can heal, too. The same, I believe, is true in our own lives.
Tulip Tree Moth (Callosamia angulifera) Photo by: Blaine Rothhauser
Wonder That Appears After Dark
Another highlight invited us into a world many of us overlook entirely: Moth Surveying in a New Jersey Mountain Meadow. We gathered after dark to celebrate creatures that rarely get the spotlight. Moths—so often dismissed—revealed themselves to be intricate, beautiful, and essential.
I love describing moths as butterflies that like to party at night, and what a party it was. Hosted by my friend Blaine Rothauser of GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc., and held at the mountain meadow of my buddy Dennis Briede, the evening came alive. Sheets were lit, moths arrived in dazzling variety, and suddenly the darkness felt vibrant.
Listeners told me that experience reminded them that beauty doesn’t always show up in daylight. Sometimes wonder waits until we slow down enough to stay awhile.
A Milestone in Our Journey Together
Amid these stories, we also marked a milestone—Episode 200 of the podcast. It wasn’t just a number. It was a moment to acknowledge how far this conversation has come, from garden tips and nature observations to a shared exploration of life’s rhythms, losses, delights, and discoveries.
If there were one invitation woven through nearly every story, it was to slow down. Look closer. Trust what you can’t see. Soil, after all, is never just soil—it’s foundation, memory, and potential.
When Growth Requires More Trust, Not More Effort
A November 2nd harvest from my No-Till Garden
Many of you reached out about Lessons from a Late No-Till Garden. On the surface, it was about letting vegetables linger and resisting the urge to clean up everything. But it opened into something larger—an invitation to step back in other areas of life, too. Sometimes growth doesn’t need more effort. It requires more trust.
We talked about leaving leaves for wildlife, letting seed heads stand, and allowing gardens to look messy—discovering that messy is often where life thrives. Nature doesn’t rush. Nature doesn’t apologize for dormancy. She trusts cycles, and many of us are learning to trust them too.
Stepping into a New Season
As we step into a new year, I hope you carry these lessons with you:
When fear arises, get curious. When healing feels slow, trust the process. When beauty appears unexpectedly, stay awhile.
And remember—you are part of a living system, designed by nature for renewal.
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com or listen on your favorite Podcast App.
There’s more to the story in the Garden Dilemmas Podcast:
Links to the abovementioned posts and podcasts:
Healing from Hyper-Humus Peat Mining
Moth Surveying in a New Jersey Mountain Meadow
Lessons from a Late No-Till Garden
