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?
7 replies on “The Gardens of Three Pines: The Gamache Garden”
Love the gardens We sold our home and moved into a condo I miss our beautiful gardens but I have pot planters on my veranda and love them
Thank for sharing the garden information Cheers
I am thrilled to know ai have the exact same plants as the Gamache Garden….lavender, apple trees and WEEDS!!
Looking forward to reading Gamache Garden ,
I so enjoy this new feature. Wish I could sit and reflect in the Gamache’s garden. Any thoughts of a “permanent ” compilation? Thanks for the heartfelt joy these gardens and books bring. Cheers!
Love this! Just wish I could get out and work in the yard. But my back and knees just won’t let me!
After two difficult winters in Mexico, NY – that’s the area just east of Lake Ontario – I’m grateful that any of my trees and plants have emerged, even if a bit raggedy for the wear…I’ve used a strong vinegar mixed with a tbs of salt and a few drops of dish soap to quell the weeds from being too aggressive- very effective deterrent without being horrible to other plants – but I remember laughing aloud at Myrna’s amusement when Armand and ReineMarie pulled perennials instead of weeds. I love these gardens and hope to return one day to Knowlton. These books bring such joy!
Jane
ISince retiring, I’m finally making little progress against the weeds! Like the Gamaches, my garden is my sanctuary and nurturing it is my joy and prayer.