Ep. 261 – Treasures from the Warwick, NY Garden Tour

What makes a garden unforgettable? Sometimes it's a rare plant or a beautiful pond. More often, it's the people behind the garden.

Join Mary Stone for a day exploring seven remarkable private gardens on the 32nd Annual Countryside Garden Tour, hosted by the Warwick Valley Gardeners. 

Along the way, she meets passionate gardeners, discovers clever design ideas, learns about unusual plants, shares conversations with fellow garden lovers, and uncovers the stories that make each landscape unique.

Whether you enjoy touring gardens or appreciate the beauty and wisdom they offer, I invite you to come along for the journey.

Link to the Related Blog Post: Treasures from a Countryside Garden Tour

Related Episodes

🌿 Episode 260 – The Flag and the Knot: Growing Forward Anyway

🌿 Episode 259 – What We Carry Forward in the Garden of Life

🌿 Episode 258 – The Gift of Noticing: A Dove Tree That Didn't Bloom

🌿 Episode 257 – Love Lovage: Treasures at Well-Sweep Herb Farm

🌿 Episode 256 – Lessons from Spiderwort and Crooked Trees

🌿 Ep. 22 – Lessons from Spruce and Forest Pansies of Hope (referenced in this episode during the discussion about Norway spruce)

Thank you to the Warwick Valley Gardeners, the homeowners who graciously opened their gardens, and my companions—Susan, Tara, Kathleen, and young Thomas—for making the day one to remember, Mary Stone

Connect with Mary Stone

Visit: AskMaryStone.com

Garden Dilemmas? AskMaryStone@gmail.com 

Thank you for listening and for sharing the Garden of Life.🌻

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 261 - Treasures from a Countryside Garden Tour

Sat, Jul 18, 2026 11:43AM • 13:51

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

Garden tour, Warwick Valley Gardeners, Hillside Heaven, Pond Paradise, Zen Simplicity, Tranquil Resilience, Woodland Wimsey, Woodland Serenity, Bear Crossing's Cottage Garden, pollinators, community effort, garden design, educational programs, nature inspiration.

SPEAKERS

Mary Stone

Mary Stone  00:00

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 in the spirit of learning from each other, we have lots to talk about. 

Mary Stone  00:23

Hello there, it's Mary Stone on the screen porch, and the heat is back in full gear. I have to say, I am grateful for my workaround of room air conditioners, but they are surely noisy. But I find peace at night sleeping on the screen porch, listening to the night sounds and watching the fireflies light up in their mysterious rhythm. I am sneaking out here before the cicadas start to sing. I'm noticing that late summer sound seems to be coming early here in mid-July. 

Mary Stone  00:55

On a recent day off, I did something many people love to do, but rarely do I take time to do it, and that is I went on a garden tour, which turned into a reflection that starts like this:

Mary Stone  01:06

 Hello, fellow lovers of all things green, what a treat to join Tara and Kathleen, both clients who have become friends, along with my neighbor Susan, for the 32nd annual countryside garden tour hosted by the Warwick Valley Gardeners. The club was established in 1992 and has been creating educational programs and community projects for more than three decades. Their annual garden tour is a cherished tradition that draws visitors from throughout the region. I was especially excited because the tour was 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 19th century, Warwick became known for its rich farmland and apple orchards, and later for attracting artists and visitors seeking the beauty of the Hudson Valley. It is such a beautiful place.

Mary Stone  02:04

 The tour began on The Green in Warwick, and I was immediately impressed by how organized everything was. The garden club had created beautiful patriotic container plantings celebrating red, white, and blue blossoms. Before you knew it, we had our wristbands on, and off we were to our first stop. And the first garden belonged to Lenora and Paul and was called Hillside Heaven. As I wandered through the property, I asked Paul if he helped in the garden. "I dig, he said. The simple answer made me laugh. When I asked Lenora how she became interested in gardening, she told me that in school I grew a petunia in a milk carton. Imagine that a lifetime passion begins with a milk carton and a petunia. I always love hearing about garden starts, and if you want to share yours, I'd love for you to email me at askmary stone@gmail.com.

Mary Stone  02:59

 Lenora also said she enjoys watching Gardener's World, that beloved BBC gardening program that follows gardeners through the seasons, sharing practical advice and inspiration from some of Britain's most beautiful gardens. Before the tour, I had heard that Lenora had suffered a mile injury, and wasn't able to garden for weeks, so she sent out a sort of SOS to fellow garden club members, and when I arrived, I noticed the evidence of the last-minute teamwork, bags of mulch, fresh touches, and a lovely new stepping stone path leading from the driveway toward the fenced-in pool and the garden surrounding it. It was so beautiful, but what struck me most was the community effort behind it and the kindness of others. Although her garden self done was just magnificent and very well maintained. 

Mary Stone  03:53

While exploring the front garden planting, my friends began asking me what various plants were. Soon, other visitors joined the conversation. One woman pointed to an evergreen ground cover and asked, "What is it? Do you know? Microbiota, I said, "It's a plant I often use in my designs as an alternative to creeping junipers. It's a softer texture, and it doesn't poke you in the back when you're working around it. Then another question came, and another, "Why do you know so much about plants?" Someone asked me, and it was kind of fun. But there were many people there who knew a lot about plants, but it gave me an opportunity to talk about what I do, and it kind of became a little bit of a promotion of the podcast and the business I have as Stone Associates. 

Mary Stone  04:38

As I was chatting with Lenora and Paul. I shared a little bit about the podcast and its theme-not only gardening, but also how nature helps heal and grow our lives. Physically, emotionally, and spiritually, Lenora piped in, and she's feeling a lot better. So it was good to see that, and indeed it does. 

Mary Stone  04:59

The second garden owned by Laurie and Kevin was called Pond Paradise. The brochure described how the property had evolved from a clean slate into more than 15 beds filled with hundreds of perennial shrubs and trees since they moved there in 2001. One line in the brochure particularly amused us: "Patience is not Laurie's virtue, as plants have been relocated many times. Tara immediately laughed because she is known for moving plants around her own garden. Her husband likes to remind her that plants don't have wheels; they have roots. But she takes great care of her plants. Tara, I always rave about you. 

Mary Stone  05:39

Our third stop was perhaps the most memorable. Patty and Dennis, titled Zen Simplicity, was inspired by Asian garden design. Dennis greeted visitors proudly and shared the story of how the garden evolved over many years. His military service in Vietnam had inspired his appreciation for Asian landscapes and their sense of serenity. The brochure described the garden perfectly: subtle colors, carefully chosen plants, and clean lines, creating a calming atmosphere that feels both timeless and restorative. Dennis built the original pond himself and later enhanced it. In fact, it was the very first pond that Tom Smith of Garden State Koi, who I know personally, whose business has thrived since, renovated, so that was neat to know. 

Mary Stone  06:26

There was a secluded meditation garden tucked into one corner, and perhaps the cleverest potting shed I've ever seen, complete with a fold-down potting table. I have shed envy. I asked Dennis how he came to be part of the tour, someone familiar with the garden knocked on his door. He said and asked him about participating. He thought perhaps 20 visitors would arrive. Instead, he discovered that nearly 300 people would be walking through when he attended the first planning meeting, and he accommodated everyone so beautifully. 

Mary Stone  06:58

One particularly memorable visitor was Thomas, Kathleen's grandson. Not yet walking independently, he tiptoed through the pond with Kathleen holding his arms as he waited and smiled in happiness. Talk about experiencing a garden firsthand, or should I say, by foot? 

Mary Stone  07:17

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. One of my favorite moments occurred there when a young girl carrying a toy camera, which actually did take photographs, became fascinated with Thomas and spent several minutes happily photographing him. I adore the photo I took of the little girl taking the shot and her mother taking a photo of the moment. A garden cover for next year's tour, perhaps, because I believe a professional photographer snagged that photo too. The innocence of childhood paired with the beauty of a pollinator garden was simply delightful. 

Mary Stone  08:00

Tara and I found ourselves discussing lamb's ear. She mentioned cutting off the flowers from hers because she doesn't particularly like the alien look of them. But the variety we planted in her garden, I remind her, is Helen von Stein, which doesn't flower that much, and the flowers do produce a lot of activity from the pollinators. It's a plant that my dear Marty Carson introduced me to years ago, and unlike some of the lamb's ear varieties that become overly ambitious spreaders, this one remains much more restrained. I prefer overly ambitious to invasive. Tara thought that was pretty funny. 

Mary Stone  08:38

The fifth garden, Woodland Wimsey, belonged to Cassie and John, and was one of our group's favorites. I commented that I don't normally care for island beds scattered throughout a lawn, but somehow theirs worked beautifully. I assumed it had all been carefully planned. Cassie laughed. No, she said. I see a plant I like. John asks me where I'm going to put it, and I tell him I have no idea. Then I come home and create a new spot.

Mary Stone  09:04

Apparently, John's current job description is digging holes. There were unusual plants everywhere. One looked as though a flower was growing out of another flower entirely, and it had the most unusual square stems. Cassie told me she had grown it from seed, but I don't recall what it is, and I wonder if anybody listening here could tell me. You can email me at askmary stone@gmail.com.

Mary Stone  09:28

 The vegetable garden featured rows of spiky deterrents along the perimeter. I assume they were for squirrels, but they still get in, John admitted. It has slowed them down, though. After a long conversation, they invited us back any time, and I think we'll take them up on that offer. So, from all the Warwick's gardens, we headed to Highland Lakes for the final two gardens. 

Mary Stone  09:53

Garden Six was Woodland Serenity, owned by Jackie and Rob. I have always dreamed of living in a log cabin surrounded by peaceful woodland gardens; this garden was exactly that dream. Nestled among mature plantings and overlooking beautiful highland lakes, the property felt secluded and serene despite its proximity to neighboring homes. And Jackie has another remarkable talent besides gardening. Throughout the garden, beautifully painted rocks were carefully placed, each an intricate work of art. As I peeked through the storm door into the rustic interior, I snapped a photograph of my reflection and thought how perfectly at home I looked there. Always good to dream, right? 

Mary Stone  10:38

The seventh and final stop was Bear Crossing's Cottage Garden, owned by Paula and Jim. The name comes from the bears that regularly wander through the property. Jim and I chatted about the Norway spruce, and I'd mentioned the troubling spread of diseases such as canker and needle cast, which have devastated blue spruces. Are now appearing more frequently on Norway spruce. Under the pergola, Jim, who was an architect, showed us photographs documenting the remarkable transformation of the home and the property. One of the most fascinating features was a tabletop pond complete with goldfish, moss, and a gentle waterfall. Its footprint was modest, but it held a surprising amount of water and served as a reminder that garden magic doesn't always require a grand scale. 

Mary Stone  11:26

As I reflected on the day, I thought about a question friends sometimes ask: Why would you spend your day off visiting gardens? Don't you feel like it's work? And the answer is no. It wasn't work. It was a joy, a joy spending time with friends and clients who have become friends, meeting gardeners willing to share their stories, their successes, and even their mistakes. I learned about plants I have never seen before, and I watched a little boy explore a pond with wonder. Garden dilemmas, AskMaryStone.com.

Mary Stone  12:02

 Indeed, it was such a joy to see all these beautiful gardens and the people who created them, habitats for pollinators, peaceful places for meditation, and gardens that reflected the personalities and the passions of the gardeners who created them. Every garden held treasures, not just plants; it held people, stories, and connections. And that's what I treasure most about what we do-sharing this garden of life together, because it's never just about plants or trees or the cycles of nature. It's how the cycles of nature are mimicked in our own lives, and the expressions of hope and creativity and healing and love that comes from observing it. 

Mary Stone  12:41

And when we share our gardens, we remind one another that beauty grows best in community. So thank you so much for visiting with me. I so enjoy it each week, and I hope you share the podcast with a friend or two who would enjoy learning about this amazing event, the annual Countryside Garden tour hosted by the Warwick Valley Gardeners. So many of the club members were volunteers at the event, and they were so energetic. I really admired the group. So thank you for the joy of learning and growing from all of you. So until next time, my kind listeners, keep growing forward in this garden of life. Thanks so much. See you next time. 

Mary Stone  13:22

You can follow Garden Dilemmas on Facebook or online at Gardendilemmas.com, and on Instagram at hashtag MaryElaine 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.