"Gold in the Garden" opens with a young girl at the funeral of her best friend. Worse than that, Kathy Jordan believes the death is her fault. In spite of being told not to go swimming and risk catching polio, the two had sneaked into the community pool one hot July day. After Susan's death from polio, Kathy is overcome with guilt and cannot face Susan's parents. Her only consolation is gardening with an elderly neighbor who helps Kathy understand how, like compost, good can come from mistakes, and the importance of forgiving oneself.

Before the Depression, Janet Larson had a nice yard to play in with her friends. Now she and her family must live in a rented apartment, and their cranky landlady has strict rules the Larson children must follow. Janet and her new friends, however, decide to get even and give old lady Cooper a scare.

Two young girls, Connie and Sally, welcome Sally's brother Phil when he returns from Vietnam a decorated hero. After the girls witness the burning of draft records in Catonsville, Maryland, Connie's father, a minister, speaks out against the war. Sally's father, however, the church board chairman, wants him to leave the church because of his opposition. When Phil's family realizes that he has PTSD, they try to keep it secret. Connie must decide whether to risk losing Sally's (and other friends') friendship to get help for Sally's brother.