Ep 224. A Sunflower Maze of Healing

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 and kindness. 

Mary concludes with a personal note about a journey in healing, the therapeutic value of nature, and the importance of mental health awareness.

Thanks for tuning in!

Related Podcast and Posts: 

A Sunflower Maze of Healing  - Blog Post 

Ep 213. The Gift of Carol Decker's Wildlife Art

Ep 126. A Sunflower Maze Brings Happiness

8888

I'd love to hear your garden and nature stories and your thoughts about topics for future podcast episodes. You can email me at AskMaryStone@gmail.com. 

You can follow Garden Dilemmas on Facebook and Instagram #MaryElaineStone.

Episode web page —Garden Dilemmas Podcast Page

 Thank you for sharing the Garden of Life,

Mary Stone, Columnist & Garden Designer

More about the Podcast and Column:

Welcome to Garden Dilemmas, Delights, and Discoveries.

It's not only about gardens; it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learned from mother nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So, let's jump in in the spirit of learning from each other. We have lots to talk about.

Thanks for tuning in, Mary Stone
Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone.com
Direct Link to Podcast Page

Transcript

Ep 224. A Sunflower Maze of Healing 

Sat, Oct 04, 2025 12:12PM • 10:07

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

Sunflower maze, Liberty Farms, mental health, pollinators, Native Americans, Fukushima, Chernobyl, Zy Saturnees, Jill the Chick, gratitude, kindness, garden traditions, nature inspiration, environmental impact, community support.

SPEAKERS

Mary Stone

Mary Stone  00:00

Mary, Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. I'm Mary Stone, and welcome to garden dilemmas, delights, and discoveries. It's not only about gardens, it's about nature's inspirations, about grasping the glories of the world around us, gathering what we learn from Mother Nature, and carrying these lessons into our garden of life. So let's jump in, the spirit of learning from each other, we have lots to talk about. 

Mary Stone  00:26

Hello there. It's Mary Stone on a chilly fall day here on the screen porch. I woke to below 50 degrees. It was a little chilly, but it warmed up nicely and the sun is shining. I see leaves flying around, many before their color shift, tired from the overly wet spring and dry summer they endured. But the nuts are plentiful, and I wake to the sounds of squirrels chewing branches of acorns off the grand oak by the pond so that they can have easy pickings on the ground. The punch line is that many acorns fall into the pond as half the canopy is above it, plop, plop, plop. I noticed there was no plopping this morning. Perhaps they ran out of acorns, or they learned their strategy backfired.

Mary Stone  01:13

Thanks to those who reached back after our last chat, the phenomenon of fairy rings. It is a fascinating formation, and Craig's saga of discovery was just so funny. But I also want to extend a special thanks to Blaine Rothauser for allowing me to share his story about the copperhead bite. I heard from one of you that you had listened to the podcast for the second time, and wanted to let me know how much you're getting from each episode, especially the last couple of months, how the comments at the end of the column strike a chord with the focus on the big picture and nature and our environment, he wrote that they've been inspirational and informative to me. Thank you for your wisdom and compassion, and love for the world we inhabit and are stewards of, however imperfect you are, bringing awareness to many. See that, Blaine, one set of ears and eyes at a time with your amazing photographs, it really does matter. 

Mary Stone  02:11

So today, we revisit a sunflower maze of happiness with a story about a child whose optimism and actions serve as a testament to younger generations who are increasingly aware of the importance of stewardship. And it starts like this.

Mary Stone  02:28

 Hello, fellow lovers of all things green. What a delight to revisit Liberty Farms in Sussex County, featuring sunflower Maze in Sandyston. Raj Sinha kindly offered a tour of the maze again this year to those who benefit from the Mental Health Association in Newton, New Jersey. The agency supports families and friends of individuals with mental illness and offers Early Intervention Support Services as well. 

Mary Stone  02:53

It's their 16th year of the maze. Raj started growing sunflowers when the New Jersey Audubon Society wanted locally grown sunflower seeds. People were interested in the 50-acre field, so he decided to create an opportunity for folks to interact with the sunflowers, close and in person, and made the amazing maze. People travel from all over to visit, some coming right from the airport. Raj said, many come to the maze for special occasions, to make milestone announcements, and to take photographs. Liberty Farm’s sunflower maze also hosts weddings and other events. There's no question that the smiling faces of sunflowers bring happiness. 

Mary Stone  03:37

Of course, I had to share the story of the sunflowers I grew from seed in the vegetable garden that my dear old grandpa, who lived with us in his last years, had hand-dug. He was a dairy farmer by trade. We'd have friendly banter about the sunflowers, shading the vegetables, and attracting birds that would peck at the tomatoes. But they attract pollinators, Raj said. That is what I told grandpa. How clever my comeback even as a kid.

Mary Stone  04:05

Sunflowers are native to North America and were a common crop amongst Native Americans who used all parts of the plant. Archaeological evidence suggests that it was first cultivated as a crop around 3000 BC, preceding corn, which is quite remarkable when you consider it. They are indeed a feast for pollinators. Each sunflower has up to 2000 florets filled with nectar, making them a lure for bees and other insects. Sunflowers can also help heal contaminated land, as they are hyperaccumulators, meaning they can absorb metal and radiation toxins. After Fukushima and Chernobyl, as part of the remediation process, millions of sunflowers are planted to absorb the toxins. And fields of them are grown to restore land contaminated with lead. 

Mary Stone  04:55

It felt like a homecoming to visit the sunflower maze and see my counselor. And other client friends from the Mental Health Association. While I'm no longer accessing their counseling services, the help received and understanding and learning ways to help navigate life with loved ones with mental illness continues to help me-  such a joy to remain connected. And seeing Raj again came with the fun of acknowledging a friend we have in common, Carol Decker a longtime friend to him, and a new friend to me, as we shared in Episode 213 the gift of Carol Decker's wild life art. Indeed, it's a small world after all.

Mary Stone  05:35

The visit came with a special treat of chatting with Raj's son, who self-published a book called Jill the Chick. His pen name is Zy Saturnees. He was busy making bouquets of sunflowers and zinnias for patrons of their farm stand. His face lit up when I asked if he'd sign a copy of his book on sale there. 

Mary Stone  05:55

Jill the chick is sure to delight readers of all ages, both young and old. From a simple perspective, it's a cute farm story about a young chick's adventures, but as you delve deeper, it's an inspiring and intriguing fable about good versus evil and the struggle for justice. That's the snippet in the description on Amazon. Indeed, it's a charming story, and I adore Zy's acknowledgments, thanking his parents for always being there for him, as well as other family members and friends who helped him with the book, along with dedicated fans who support and believe in him, He wraps up with I would also like to thank my dog, my chickens and all my fellow farm animals for always listening to my stories and ideas. Are you smiling as I read this? Because I sure am reading it to you.

Mary Stone  06:47

 It's heartwarming and encouraging to witness the sentiments of a young person who already understands and appreciates the world around them and all that they share it with. His presence exudes gratitude and hopefulness, and I envision his sunshine inspiring joy and optimism in others, like the 50 acres of sunflowers as he grows forward in life. May we all do the same. Garden Dilemmas? Ask MarysStone.com.

Mary Stone  07:17

Such a remarkable young person? I asked Zy who did the illustrations for his book. I did along with the help of technology. A high-tech kid, he's often referred to.  Imagine that publishing his own book with his own illustration, it encourages me to do the same with Lesson of Leaf. You never know where inspiration will come from, the smallest packages with the biggest hearts, a beautiful thing. 

Mary Stone  07:43

The visit was also a time for reflection. You may recall that a few years ago, we featured the sunflower maze. At the time, I was going through a difficult period, resulting in a health emergency. I am so grateful that I am handling things better now, which has led to restored health. Mental health can impact all of us from time to time, not just those who have a chemical imbalance or other challenges that are more permanent. Living in gratitude and kindness certainly enhances our outlook on life, which in turn benefits our health. Caring for all that we share this world with, with kindness, benefits our health as well. Our survival ultimately depends on it.

Mary Stone  08:25

 I'm smiling, thinking about grandpa. I still grow sunflowers above my vegetables. I shared earlier in the season that I was late planting my vegetable garden. I think I planted the seeds towards the end of June. I'm not kidding about that, but they are now in their glory, and I'm enjoying them. I've considered cutting them and bringing them indoors, but I love them too much out in the garden, and I want to share them with the pollinators that adore them too. Isn't it funny how traditions continue? I would love to hear about your traditions in your life that pertain to gardens, nature, or relatives with whom you've enjoyed them. Please email me at Ask Mary stone@gmail.com. I just love hearing from you. I love your stories. I want to thank you for all that you do for me by being present, and all the wonderful comments and just the wisdom that you share with me have helped me grow in this life. I hope it's helping you as well. Thank you, Raj, again, for the invitation to the magnificent sunflower maze, spreading happiness and joy, and for you, Zy, for inspiring me. See you next time on the screen porch.

Mary Stone  09:36

You can follow Garden Dilemmas on Facebook or online at Garden Dilemmas.com and on Instagram at hashtag Mary Elaine Stone. Garden Dilemmas Delights and Discoveries is produced by Alex Bartling. Thanks for coming by. I look forward to chatting again from my screen porch and always remember to embrace the unexpected in this garden of life. Have a. Great day.