LOUISE PENNY’S

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June 30, 2026

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The Gardens of Three Pines: The Village Green

There is perhaps no setting more synonymous with Louise Penny’s books than the Village Green. The beating heart of Three Pines, the Village Green, with its iconic three pine trees, is the site of celebrations, gatherings, and chance encounters, no matter the season. Below, we’ve compiled some of our favorite quotes from the books about the Village Green:

“From the top of the hill she could see fieldstone homes, clapboard cottages, and brick shops surrounding a village green. Perennial gardens were in their first blush. There were peonies and huge purple lilac bushes. Banks of lupins grew wild down the slope. Three massive pine trees stood in the center of the village.” – The Madness of Crowds

“Tulip bulbs were beginning to crack through the earth and soon the village green would be awash with spring flowers, deep blue hyacinths and bluebells and gay bobbing daffodils, snowdrops and fragrant lily of the valley, filling the village with fragrance and delight.” – The Cruelest Month

“Three Pines wasn’t on any tourist map, being too far off any main or even secondary road. Like Narnia, it was generally found unexpectedly and with a degree of surprise that such an elderly village should have been hiding in this valley all along. Anyone fortunate enough to find it once usually found their way back. And Thanksgiving, in early October, was the perfect time. The weather was usually crisp and clear, the summer scents of old garden roses and phlox were
replaced by musky autumn leaves, woodsmoke and roast turkey.” – Still Life

“Gamache had never seen Three Pines in summer. The leaves of the maple, apple and oak trees obscured slightly the old homes round the village green. But that made them all the more magical, as though half hiding their beauty only added to it. Three Pines revealed itself slowly, and only to people with the patience to wait, to sit quietly in one of the faded armchairs in the bistro, sipping Cinzano or café au lait, and watch the changing face of the venerable village.” – A Rule Against Murder

“Three Pines was robed in white. A foot of snow had fallen in the last few weeks and every old home round the village green had its own tuque of purest white. Smoke wafted out of the chimneys as though the homes had their own voice and breath, and Christmas wreaths decorated the doors and gates. At night the quiet little Eastern Townships village glowed with light from the Christmas decorations. There was a tender hum about the place as adults and children alike prepared for the big day.” – A Fatal Grace

Plants and trees you’ll find in the Village Green include:

  • Pine Trees: These evergreens are native to the northern hemisphere. Pine nuts can be used in pesto as well as certain types of wine. Methusela – a pine tree named for the biblical grandfather of Noah – is one of the oldest living organisms in the world and dates to nearly 5,000 years of age.
  • Hyacinths: A perennial named after Hyacinthus, the lover of Apollo in Greek mythology. Legend tells us that after the death of Hyacinthus, Apollo used the fallen Spartan’s blood to create the flower we know today.
  • Lupins: Known regionally as Bluebonnets, Lupins grow both as annuals and perennials in the Americas. While the origin of the name is debatable, the word almost certainly derives from the Latin word for wolf. Like the wolf, the plant can be harmful and sometimes fatal to grazing animals.

What’s your favorite season in Three Pines?

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The Gardens of Three Pines: Ruth Zardo’s Garden

As any fan would agree, there would be no Three Pines without the village’s most “drunken, embittered” old poet – Ruth Zardo – and her pet duck, Rosa. In the novels, Ruth’s garden is quite a bit like her character: wild, prickly, a bit neglected, and deceptively beautiful.

“Standing like a ramrod beside them and staring unblinking at the bistro was Ruth Zardo. And her duck, looking quite imperious. Ruth wore a sou’wester that glistened in the rain. Clara spoke to her, but was ignored. Ruth Zardo, Gamache knew, was a drunken, embittered old piece of work. Who also happened to be his favorite poet in the world.” – The Brutal Telling

“‘Blows over from your garden,’ Ruth complained. ‘It’s a weed, you know. Invasive, rude, demanding. Soaks up all the nutrients.’
He looked down at the old poet. ‘Yes, we know. But we like it anyway.’” – The Nature of the Beast

Some of the plants that might be found in Ruth (and Rosa’s) garden include:

Hydrangeas: From the Greek word for “water vessel”, Hydrangeas’ colors differ based on the acidity of the soil they’re planted in, which is a perfect metaphor for Ruth’s sharp and biting tongue!

Bindweed: A common name for Convolvulaceae, which is also known as Morning Glories. They can be an incredibly invasive species, especially in the Americas; however, Aztec priests favored them for their hallucinogenic qualities.

What’s your favorite Ruth quote from Louise’s novels?

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The Gardens of Three Pines: The Hermit’s Garden

In The Brutal Telling, we meet Jakob, “the Hermit”, a secretive Czech recluse who lived for more than a decade in an isolated log cabin hidden deep in the woods near Three Pines. Jakob lived in a cabin filled to the brim with antique treasures from all over the world – along with window boxes filled with thriving plants.

“A wheelbarrow with some dirt and a shovel stood halfway along the path and at the far end there sat a chair of bent branches, with comfortable and faded cushions. It was inviting and Gamache had an image of the man working in the garden, then resting. Sitting quietly in the chair.” – The Brutal Telling

Some of the plants that the Hermit grew included:

  • Nasturtium: Named for the Latin words for Twisted Nose, which may derive from the pungent taste of these edible plants.
  • Cilantro: The leaves of Coriander, Cilantro is native to the Mediterranean region and evidence of the plant was found in King Tut’s tomb along with – among other treasures – the pharaoh’s embalmed organs.
  • Rosemary: Another native of the Mediterranean Region, Rosemary has been popularized in songs by Simon & Garfunkel and the Grateful Dead.

Cilantro is a divisive herb. Do you like it or do you think it tastes like soap?

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The Gardens of Three Pines: The Gardens of Gamache’s Paris

In Louise Penny’s 16th novel, All the Devils Are Here, Armand and Reine-Marie Gamache travel to Paris. There, they encounter two gardens that are worlds different from the green spaces of Three Pines: the hidden courtyard garden belonging to Armand’s Godfather, Stephen Horowitz, and the stately trees and sculptures of the gardens at the Musée Rodin.

Stephen Horowitz’s Courtyard

“Once in the courtyard, Gamache touched Beauvoir’s arm in a silent request to pause.
A single tree, thick-trunked, tall and gnarled, dominated the space.
Lace curtains fluttered at windows where boxes were planted with bright red geranium and soft blue pansies.
Even Beauvoir, not given to appreciating aesthetics, could appreciate this.
It was one of the many peculiarities of Paris. Hidden behind many of the simple wooden doors were these courtyards and secret gardens. It was a city of façades. Of beauty, both obvious and obscure. Of heroism, both obvious and obscure. Of dreadful deeds, both obvious and obscure.” – All the Devils Are Here

  • Geranium: Named for the Greek word for “Crane” due to the flower’s supposed resemblance to the bill and head of the bird (I don’t see it!). Geraniums are symbols of good health and friendship.
  • Pansies: Derived from the French for “thought”, Pansies are a strong flower that can survive through Winter. A favorite among poets and writers, the plant appears in many works including those of Spenser, Hawthorne, and Wordsworth. Curiously, Margaret Mitchell originally named her most famous character, “Pansy O’Hara”…

The Musée Rodin Sculpture Garden

“Who’d have thought such a place existed anywhere, never mind tucked, essentially hidden, behind tall walls, in the middle of the city? It was a world unto itself. A magic garden.” – All the Devils Are Here

  • Maples: Maple fossils date back 60 million years! A national symbol of Canada where 10 species are native to the country. Maples are a favorite of Fall foliage viewers or “leaf peepers” as they’re sometimes referred to.
  • Lime Trees: Generally an ornamental plant, Lime trees are a favored wood among carvers and are often used in the construction of blinds. Herbally, the tree is beneficial in reducing stress, promoting sleep, and fighting colds.

Have you visited any notable gardens on your travels?

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The Gardens of Three Pines: The Gardens of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups

Deep in the wilderness of Quebec lies the monastery of Saint-Gilbert-Entre-les-Loups, where two dozen cloistered monks live in silence and prayer. Although they’ve taken a vow of silence, the monks are world-famous for their singing voices, reciting chants so profound they produce an effect known as “the beautiful mystery” – the inspiration for the title of the eighth book in Louise Penny’s series.

When the monks aren’t singing, they’re making chocolate, tending to their chickens, and growing vegetables and medicinal herbs. Plants that might be found in each of the monastery gardens are listed below.

The Abbot’s Garden

“Gamache longed to walk around the abbot’s garden. No matter how tilled and weeded and pruned it was, that control was an illusion. There was no taming nature.” – The Beautiful Mystery

  • Echinacea: Native to North America and named for the Greek word for hedgehog, this medicinal plant is commonly used to treat colds, among other ailments.
  • Meadowsweet: Meadowsweet, or “Queen of the Meadow”, is prevalent in the United Kingdom and was a favorite potpourri of Queen Elizabeth I.
  • Chamomile: Widely known for its use in herbal teas, Chamomile can also be added as a flavoring ingredient in beer.

Vegetable Garden

“Jean-Guy looked at the garden. It was huge. Much, much bigger than the abbot’s garden. This was clearly a vegetable garden, whose main crop seemed to be massive mushrooms.” – The Beautiful Mystery

  • Mushrooms: A fungus that comes in all shapes and sizes – some of which are poisonous – that can be used in many ways, including a vehicle to “turn on, tune in, drop out”.
  • Squash: A member of the Cucurbita family, along with gourds and pumpkins, that are known to attract “Squash” bees and come in a myriad of winter and summer varieties.
  • Carrots: A root vegetable that dates back to 3000 BC, consumption of which was once thought to improve night vision – they do not. But they are still a favorite of Bugs Bunny, who popularized the myth that rabbits naturally eat carrots – they do not.

What are some of your favorite medicinal herbs and vegetables?

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The Gardens of Three Pines: The Gardens of Manoir Bellechasse

Each summer, beginning when they were young, Reine-Marie and Armand Gamache visit Manoir Bellechasse, the beautiful, grand lodge built over a century ago on the shores of Lake Massawippi. Surrounded by mountains and forests – and gardens! – the lodge is a luxury, secluded destination for lovers of nature and good food.

“They knew if they looked in that same ledger they’d find their signatures, once a year, stretching back to a June day more than thirty years ago when young Armand had saved his money and brought Reine-Marie here. For one night. In the tiniest of rooms at the very back of the splendid old Manoir. Without a view of the mountains or the lake or the perennial gardens lush with fresh peonies and firstbloom roses. He’d saved for months, wanting that visit to be special. Wanting Reine-Marie to know how much he loved her, how precious she was to him.” – A Rule Against Murder

Some flowers that might be found in Manoir Bellecasse’s manicured grounds include:

Peonies: While the number of peony species is unclear, this flowering plant is extremely popular in ornamental arrangements. The peony has a rich and long history in Eastern cultures and is the floral symbol of China.

Lilies: Mostly native to the Northern Hemisphere, the lily flowers in a bountiful spectrum of colors. Beware: certain types of lilies can be extremely dangerous for cats!

Honeysuckle: Known to attract Hummingbirds, especially in North America, Honeysuckle can be aromatic and is named for the nectar that they cultivate in their flowers. The plant has come to symbolize nostalgia and love.

Tell us about a memorable garden you’ve visited on your travels.

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The Gardens of Three Pines: The Gamache Garden

Although it feels like the Gamaches have always been part of the fabric of Three Pines, Armand and Reine-Marie don’t officially move to the village until the tenth book in the series, The Long Way Home. Their brick house sits on the edge of the Village Green, and their garden, located in the back of the house, becomes a place of peace and reflection for the Gamaches, along with a gathering place where they spend time with their family and friends.

“Reine-Marie stopped, stooped, and picked a weed out of their front garden. She showed it to Myrna, who clapped. It had become their running joke, from their early days in the village, when Reine-Marie and Armand had “weeded” the spring garden, only to discover they’d left the weeds and taken out most of the perennials.” – Glass Houses

Perhaps not natural green thumbs, the Gamaches still grow a variety of flowers, weeds, and trees in their garden, including:

Lavender: An Old World flower that dates back, at the very least, to Greek and Roman times. “Lavender Haze” was a term coined in the 1950s to describe a certain state of love. Taylor Swift heard the phrase while watching an episode of Mad Men, which inspired her to pen the eponymous song.

Weeds: A generally undesirable plant that dates back to the invention of agriculture. A.A. Milne famously quipped in Winnie-the-Pooh, “Weeds are plants too, once you get to know them.”

Apple Trees: Also known as Malus domestica, were originally cultivated in Asia and subsequently brought to America by colonists. William Blaxton, the first European settler to occupy what is today known as Boston, grew the first apples and named them “Yellow Sweeting”.

Do you have any tips for managing weeds in your garden?

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The Gardens of Three Pines: Miss Jane Neal’s Garden

There’s no better introduction to the “Gardens of Three Pines” than Miss Jane Neal’s. Jane, a retired schoolteacher, is famously the first murder victim in Louise’s beloved and bestselling series. Her garden provides a window into the type of person she was – and the community of Three Pines where she lived.

“‘One more question,’ said Gamache at the door, the bag of muffins in one hand and the door handle in the other. ‘You mentioned the Charles de Mills rose.’
‘Jane’s favorite. He’s not just any rose, Chief Inspector. He’s considered by rosarians to be one of the finest in the world. An old garden rose. Only blooms once a season but with a show that’s spectacular. And then it’s gone.’” – Still Life

Jane was known for her particular fondness for “old garden roses,” which she tended with expert care, and her favorite, the Charles de Mills rose. Beyond the roses, her garden was a riot of color and variety, featuring:

  • Hollyhocks: Of the Alcea genus, hollyhock is generally found in Asia and Europe. The Streambank Wild Hollyhock is native to North America.
  • Sweet Bergamot (Monarda): A mint that is indigenous to North America. The Native Americans used its medicinal qualities to cure stomach ailments, among other ailments.
  • Charles de Mills Rose: An Old Garden Rose, first introduced in 1786, the Charles de Mills rose is known for its vibrant purple and crimson hues. The Charles de Mills was inducted into the Old Rose Hall of Fame in 2015.

Tell us about your garden?

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