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PODCAST

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries

Join columnist and garden designer Mary Stone in sharing Dilemmas, Delights, & Discoveries in the Garden of Life.

leisure home & garden

All Episodes

12:08

Ep 238. Hope Takes the Form of a Tree

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2026/01/18

In this episode, Mary Stone reflects on the quiet wisdom of trees after receiving the New Jersey Tree Survey from the Arbor Day Foundation. She explores how trees support mental and emotional well-being, the realities behind tree-planting campaigns, and the value of nurturing growth over time. A flashback to a fallen Eastern Hemlock and a thriving young beech offers a gentle reminder that even after loss, new life emerges. Hope, it turns out, sometimes takes the form of a tree. Thanks f...

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11:05

Ep 237. Roofs to Roots: Reviving Houseplants

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2026/01/11

Mary Stone discusses the benefits of using rainwater and snowmelt for indoor plants and how to revive houseplants in duress. She explores the quiet wisdom of water through stories of Christmas cacti, Jolee's water bowl, and flowing streams, and reflects on patience, renewal, and trusting life's natural flow. Thanks for tuning in! Related Episodes and Posts: Ep 89. Wisdom in the Rhythm of Water Wisdom in the Rhythm of Water – Blog Post Houseplants in Duress Turn Happy – Blog Post Benefit...

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11:42

Ep 236. What We Release, What We Grow

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2026/01/04

Mary Stone reflects on releasing what no longer serves us and setting intentions that grow in their own time, inspired by nature's rhythms and a New Year water ceremony hosted by Rev. Dr. Christina Tillotson. Through garden metaphors and personal insights, she reminds us that what we let go of creates space for quiet, lasting growth. Thank you for tuning in! Link for more about Rev. Dr. Christina Tillotson Related Podcasts and Blog Posts you'll enjoy: Ep 139. Legends of Holly and Christ...

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11:51

Ep 235. What Nature and Gardens Gifted Us

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2025/12/28

Mary Stone reflects on lessons learned from a year of observation in the garden and wild places beyond it. From copperheads and moths to healing land and personal change, she explores how slowing down, trusting nature, and paying attention to what often goes unseen can lead to growth, understanding, and quiet transformation. Thanks for Tuning In! 🌿 Featured Podcasts and Posts: Ep 234. Stillness Teaches Growth Through Nature Stillness Teaches Growth Through Nature – Blog &nbs...

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12:32

Ep 234. Stillness Teaches Growth Through Nature

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2025/12/21

Mary Stone reflects on the wisdom of stillness as an essential part of growth. Through nature’s rhythms and garden observations, she explores how healing and transformation often unfold unseen, offering a gentle preview of themes in Part Two of her forthcoming book, The Lesson of the Leaf. “Stillness isn’t a pause — it’s where growth quietly begins.” Thanks for Tuning in! Link to the related posts and podcast: Stillness Teaches Growth Through Nature -- Blog Post Overview of ...

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13:40

Ep 233. Everything has its Season - Lesson of the...

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2025/12/14

Mary Stone discusses her garden and offers personal reflections, highlighting winter's impact on her landscape. She expresses gratitude for the snow covering her woodland floor and shares her creative use of deer-pruned holly branches to decorate a cherished pot. Mary reflects on the invasive nature of some plants, such as butterfly bush and barberry, and her shift toward using more native plants. She also draws metaphorical parallels between garden maintenance and personal relati...

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15:07

Ep 232. Late Season Tasks into Décor and Healing

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2025/12/07

Mary Stone reflects on late-season garden projects, including the removal of old telephone poles and the careful harvesting of boulders for new retaining walls—done with deep respect for the surrounding ecosystem. She shares tips for planting perennials with liner plugs, using Stress X to support transplanted shrubs, and managing fallen leaves to benefit both wildlife and soil health. Weaving garden wisdom with seasonal reflection, Mary Stone shares her tradition of decorating with roadside f...

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12:43

Ep 231. Three Seasons Tribute to Ongoing Growth

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2025/11/30

Mary Stone reflects on the life and legacy of her dear friend and design colleague, Marty Carson, who recently passed away. She shares memories of their collaboration and the impact of Marty's wisdom and generosity on the gardening community, including a lecture they gave on deer-resistant gardening, which shared humorous and effective methods to deter deer. Mary concludes with personal updates on her own garden and a poem by Rumi, emphasizing gratitude and the beauty of nature. Thanks for Tu...

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14:13

Ep 230. Lessons from a Late No-Till Garden

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2025/11/16

In this episode, Mary Stone shares the surprising gifts of her late-season vegetable garden and highlights the benefits of No-Till gardening. She walks through ripening green tomatoes indoors, saving seeds for next year and putting the garden to bed without disturbing the living soil below — a gentle practice that nurtures healthier plants and fewer weeds. Mary also reflects on nature’s timing, the season of letting go, and the heartfelt loss of her dear friend and design colleague, Marty Car...

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10:39

Ep 229. Flocking Together - Wisdom from Grackles

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2025/11/09

Mary Stone shares a breathtaking encounter with a flock of grackles while visiting the Karen Ann Quinlan Home for Hospice in Fredon, NJ. Their synchronized flight inspires a reflection on the quiet wisdom of nature and the beauty of unity in motion. How the birds never collide opens a deeper exploration of how grackles — and all flocking birds — navigate together through separation, alignment, and cohesion. Their graceful movement offers a powerful metaphor for how we might live. Thanks for T...

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12:18

Ep 228. Promises That Live On Beyond Seasons

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2025/11/02

Mary Stone shares an update on her friend and design colleague, Marty Carson, who is now in hospice care in Florida. At the same time, with a heavy heart, she shares news of the closure of the Karen and Quinlan Home for Hospice in Fredon, NJ, due to financial and staffing challenges. Mary and her singing partner, Ken Roberts, volunteer weekly, offering music therapy. To know that such compassionate care of our elderly and gravely ill is unsustainable is heartbreaking. Mary w...

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10:23

Ep 227. Sequence of Fall Leaves Brings New Life

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2025/10/26

As fall unfolds, trees show us the art of letting go. From green to gold, orange to red, each leaf teaches us that change brings growth and beauty. In this episode, Mary Stone reflects on how nature mirrors our own seasons of transformation — and how letting go creates room for new life. Thank you for tuning in! Related Podcast and Posts: Sequence of Fall Leaves Brings Life – Blog Post https://askmarystone.com/sequence-of-fall-leaves-brings-new-life/ Ep 83. The Fall of the Leaf&nb...

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11:12

Ep 226. Reader Sagas of Shagbark Hickories

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2025/10/19

Mary Stone shares the delights and cleanup sagas of Shagbark Hickory trees, highlighting their shaggy bark, edible nuts, and benefits to wildlife. She shares personal experiences and reader anecdotes, such as a client who planted Shagbark hickory for pollination and a reader from Indiana dealing with an excessive amount of nuts. Mary explains the tree's three-year nut-producing cycle and how mast years and nutless years help balance populations through a process called predator satiatio...

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10:19

Ep 225. Acorns and a Ruckus of Blue Jays

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2025/10/12

Mary Stone recounts witnessing a bear in her pond overnight, perhaps feeding on acorns. The encounter led her to learn about the Acorn Float Test, which assesses the viability of acorns for propagation. Blue Jays flock to feast on acorns in the fall, making a ruckus. Like squirrels, they bury a stash, though many are never retrieved. Mary admits a previous grudge against Blue Jays, which shifted after observing their nature. She highlights the importance of Oak Trees and Blue Jays in th...

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10:06

Ep 224. A Sunflower Maze of Healing

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2025/10/05

Mary Stone discusses the history, benefits, and healing aspects of sunflowers, sharing her return visit to Liberty Farms' Sunflower Maze in Sandyston. Raj Sinha graciously opens the maze to those who benefit from the services of the Mental Health Association in New Jersey each year. She features meeting Raj's son, who self-published a book, "Jill the Chick." His optimism and actions serve as a testament to younger generations who are increasingly aware of the importance of stewardship a...

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11:00

Ep 223. The Phenomenon of Fairy Rings

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2025/09/28

Mary Stone discusses the phenomenon of Fairy Rings, caused by fungi creating dark green or brown circular bands in lawns. Craig from New Jersey shares his hilarious experience with Fairy Rings, initially suspecting contamination from pesticides. Mary explains the natural occurrence and folklore of fairy rings. She also reflects on the ecological significance of fungi, highlighting their role in recycling decay into life. Additionally, Mary shares a heartfelt story from Blaine Rothauser ...

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10:49

Ep 222. Fascinating Fungi and Wood Wide Web

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2025/09/21

Mary Stone discusses the fascinating world of fungi, particularly Giant Puffball Mushrooms and Jack o' Lantern Mushrooms. She emphasizes the importance of proper identification for those who scavenge for wild mushrooms and shares the foolproof four suggested by Cabinlife.com. Additionally, Mary explains the concept of the Wood Wide Web, detailing the differences between mycorrhizal fungi and mycelium. Then concludes by reflecting on how we can learn from the natural world. Like th...

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11:37

Ep 221. Curious Copperhead Encounters

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2025/09/14

Mary Stone discusses her experiences with snakes, particularly Copperheads, in her garden and how their hourglass-shaped markings blend into the environment. While venomous, they aren't as dangerous as rumored, and while they benefit us by controlling pests, she shares ways to discourage them from hunkering down in your garden. The episode concludes with other wildlife encounters that instill fear, followed by excitement and wonder, and invites listeners to share their own wildlif...

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11:54

Ep 220. Sweet Autumn Clematis Native Alternative

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2025/09/07

Mary Stone describes the beauty and fragrance of Sweet Autumn Clematis, despite its invasive tendencies, suggesting that pruning seed heads before they dry will prevent self-seeding. She introduces an alternative native plant look-alike, Virgin's Bower, clematis virginiana. Though nonfragrant, it's a lure to pollinators. Plus, Mary lists lovely native shrubs to shade the roots of clematis. She wraps up sharing her recent journey and the therapeutic joy of gardening, emphasizing the gift...

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10:55

Ep 219. Curiosity about Cardinals Brings Wisdom

Garden Dilemmas, Delights & Discoveries ·

2025/08/31

As a sequel to the last episode, Mary Stone updates the progress of a late-season cardinal nest that she thought was taken by a predator. Later, she learns that the fledglings are likely on the ground, honing their flying skills while being tended by their parents. She concludes with a reflection based on a plaque passed down by her mother: "Wonder is the Beginning of Wisdom," encouraging listeners to cultivate acceptance and a curiosity to learn about different things, both in nature a...

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238 results

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