Hegdish, a mischief maker from out of Groundling Marsh's distant past, returns to a warm welcome by stealing the sunstones from an underground cave. And Eco needs those sunstones to help the garden overcome a prolonged frost.
Maggie must learn to be patient and quiet if she expects to se a butterfly for the first time. It's a tough task for Maggie, the most rambunctious of all the groundlings.
Stacks is upset when no one gives him credit for an idea of his. Thus, when a huge pollutant stinks up the marsh, Stacks is not willing to give his fellow groundlings the solution.
Hegdish provokes Galileo to pull a prank involving itching powder. In the process, a patch of grass begins scratching uncontrollably.
Hegdish builds a fence around the sparkle berry bushes he thinks are his alone. He then coaxes the other groundlings to build fences around their lairs. This leads to a potentially serious flood.
Galileo wants to play music for the upcoming blossom festival.
Mud/Slinger bicker between themselves to such an extent that neither wants to see the other. This prompts Eco to mix a special concoction that, should Myd/Slinger drink it, they would separate forever.
Hegdish coaxes the groundlings to steal the secret recipe for a special candy. What they make together is a strange mix that switches Maggie and Mud's personalities.
Maggie thinks she has ruined a festive day when Hegdish tricks her into shaking the Tinkertree barren of its bells. Eco tells Maggie that Nature's rhythms are dependable.
Mud/Slinger want to demonstrate their bravery. When Maggie and Galileo ask them to get special moss found on a remote island, Mud/Slinger jump at the opportunity. Eco helps get them prepared with everything they need, which will come in handy. Mud/Slinger's traditional bickering gets them lost at sea. All that Maggie, Galileo, and Eco assume, though, is that Mud/Slinger will be their heroes.
When Galileo discovers a duck egg, he decides to perch on it in hopes that a duck will hatch. It takes all the persistence Galileo can muster to stay on the nest, and Hegdish is waiting patiently himself – for the one moment that Galileo will falter.
Eco becomes overly concerned about the safety of the other groundlings, much to Maggie's discontent. When a tree needs help, Maggie is determined to do the job by herself. It's tough for Eco, especially since she had promised not to give Maggie any advice about the tree.
Wintertime hits the marsh, much to the alarm of Mud/Slinger, who usually hibernate at this time. As they stuff their faces for the upcoming sleep, Hegdish succeeds in trapping Eco in Mud/Slinger's cave, but doesn't count on trapping himself in with her. Eco tries to instill to Hegdish the ability to talk to Nature and the Earth's creatures.