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?
87 replies on “The Gardens of Three Pines: Miss Jane Neal’s Garden”
I love the Inspector Gamache series and look forward to the next book, the day after my birthday…my gift to myself. Reading about the various Gardens of Three Pines is going to be a real treat!
I agree, I buy the new Louise Penny book every year as my birthday present to me! I love to read the books and imagine life in Three Pines. If it was a real place it is where I would go to retire. They have a bookstore, a bistro, wonderful neighbours as well as an eccentric. What more could a person ask for.
I have a stealth garden – every summer it has expanded, while the front lawn has slowly been disappearing in favor of native perennials that are friendly to pollinators. It has been a long series of trial and error, since I started out trying to reproduce the one my great-grandmother started where I grew up in Upstate New York in our present home in central Maryland. The peonies, irises, spirea, and mock orange that Nana loved have thrived, as have the lilies of the valley in the heavily shaded area of my back yard, but the roses sometimes have struggled with our summer heat and humidity (not to mention hordes of hungry deer!). My rose beds are a tribute to loved ones who are gone, with the most recent additions planted in memory of my mother, whom I lost last April.
My garden in Kent,England has been tended for nearly 500 years. I have an apple and a tamerisk both over 100 years old. My Agapanthus and Acanthus are in full bloom along with lots of salvias and penstamons
I have a beautiful Charles de Mills rose bought for me by my son out 30 years ago, it has moved twice in England, and is now at home with us in Scotland. I love it, also love peonies and all perennial border plants. We have just moved to a much less windy garden, so we are excited to get to grips with a new garden, greenhouse and vegetable area. Our last move we hope. I
My garden came with the house we bought more than 20 years ago. I’m afraid family health issues are keeping me from giving it the loving care it deserves now, but I have been doing what I can. Lots of lavender, phlox, and a huge orange sedum give it color.
I love my Florida gardens filled with vinca, hibiscus, azaleas, etc., but drought conditions and watering limits this year have been a challenge in keeping my plants alive. Maybe sand and cacti would be better!!!
My garden was started 37 years ago when we bought our house. I started planting perennials- peonies of every colour- white, yellow, pale pink, fuchsia and red. My favourite however is the rare orange peony. I planted them in front of all my clematis which I also tried to get a variety of colours. I live in Calgary, under the arch (referring to the Chinook winds that blow during the winter to warm us) and the constant freeze/thaw conditions require old varieties with deep roots. That’s how I see the three pines, the gardens and the people in your books, Louise. Sturdy with deep roots. Great idea for another way for us to explore the books until the next one comes out.
My gardens are my glory! At present I have “volunteer” sunflowers from the birdseed droppings and Becky daisies (a gift from my Sister) and a wall of tall zinnias that bring me joy each year. The list goes on and on.
Rose-my favourite.
It was fun figuring out what grew well in Tennessee after living most of my life in Illinois. I love having wisteria, hibiscus, honeysuckle, and dahlias in my flower beds!
Hello all,
I live in Florida so we are semi-tropical. My favorite plant besides my beautiful Queen Palms that are 2 stories tall, is the lovely Angel Trumpet. She is 6 feet tall and has absolutely lovely blooms that are almost a foot long. Please do a search to see them, you won’t be disappointed. Have a wonderful day, and stop and smell the roses as they say.
send me your email so i can see yur ngel teumpets.
i have them as well apricot color and yellow
The highlight of my garden are the azaleas. Like the Charles de Mills rose they bloom spectacularly only once in early to mid June then they are gone for another year leaving me to look forward to next year.
We’ve been to England two times now, and there is nothing that I love better than an English or cottage garden! We are going to try up out garden game and are working with a neighbor who is a landscape designer to slowly make it so. A top feature for me is to have a small arbor gate with a flower growing on it. I’m excited for these journals to get ideas and to walk down a memory lane of your books. Thank you!
I live on Prince Edward Island. Oh it’s so hard to pick favourites – lilacs, peonies, foxglove, lavender, pansies. I better stop.😊
My favorite type of garden
Love the sentiment & the beautiful watercolours. Cheers from Montréal
Reminds me of the Gamache series: blooms only once a year, but gives a spectacular show. I look forward to it every year.
Love the reminiscing.