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?
22 replies on “The Gardens of Three Pines: The Gardens of Gamache’s Paris”
I have been blessed to have visited Kew Gardens in London, England and been twice to the Chelsea Flower Show. But I think my favourite garden is our own Canadian Butchart Gardens in beautiful Victoria BC. A favourite in any season.
When Louise writes about the Rodin garden: a world unto itself… that’s exactly how I felt in there! The garden is marvelous and secluded, the burghers are breathtaking and shockingly realistic. Strolling through that garden on an overcast morning gave me the chills and excited something in me I had never experienced before.
My mom loved geraniums and she adored my husband. He planted her geraniums when we all moved here to WA state.. As she got older she lost most of her sight but she could see those beautiful red flowers! My husband adds to her garden every year and he sets up a tent around them in the winter. Her ashes are in her garden providing Spirit Fertilizer!
The gardens at the Musee Rodin are among my favorite places. Last September, we returned again and spent the entire day in the gardens enjoying the plants and the sculptures and eating at the cafe with a view of them. My other favorite garden in Paris is Jardins des Luxembourg. It is so large and varied you can explore each corner individually on different visits and have a picnic lunch in the center watching children launch their little bateaux in the pond. While the gardens at the Rodin are contemplative, the gardens at Luxembourg are filled with activity even including lively games of petanque.
I once had a view from the balcony of an apartment in the 7th arr of a private garden attached to home on the edge of the Champs de Mars. From street level it was completely private but from above I could watch a gardener trimming roses while an elderly woman sat at a small table sipping afternoon tea or coffee. It felt like a stolen moment … a memory I will always cherish.
What a wonderful idea! Can’t wait to read more!
Les Jardins du Château de Brecy in Normandy forever changed my appreciation of gardens. And that was after visiting Monet’s gardens, where I thought I had gone to heaven. France is rich in so many areas, and gardens, hidden and public, are no exception.
I too visited Monet’s gardens early one autumn and when we first arrived fog was lifting from the river. Then the sun broke out showing the plantings in all their glory. There was a beautiful path of nasturtiums that were like a floral carpet.
It is the geranium seed head that looks like cranes./
Look at that. They really do!
…I had to look! Yes, the seed pods! Thanks for this! Fun fact. 🙂
In the late 90’s I had the pleasure of working as a volunteer at Old Westbury Gardens on Long Island. They had several different areas of garden types. I loved working in the Japanese garden as it had a simplistic style and was very gracefully designed.
What stood out for me was the Darwin tulips they tested for a company I believe in Holland. At the end of the flowering season, after they filed their report on what was expected of them, and how the tulips fared, they were dug up and offered to the volunteers. You never knew what you were going to see the following spring when you went out into your garden. When I sold my house I had over 200 tulips plants in my garden and they were just spectacular.
I come from a long line of horticulturalists in Pennsylvania. Despite the many plants both seasonal and unique that I saw in those family greenhouses, one of my favorite gardens was the one my mom grew in our back yard. It was amazing because she had a real green thumb. I also grew up near Longwood Gardens in Kennet Square, Pennsylvania. It is majestic, beautifully appointed and includes so many different species of flora that one is always amazed at the beauty of the trees, flowers and plants growing there. And now there are QR codes that link you to facts about many species, which is spectacularly interesting to me because I never inherited the green thumb the rest of my family had and never recognize the most common of plants let alone the spectacular ones. Thank you Ms. Penny for letting your avid readers share their nostalgic memories here.
I grew up in Wilmington DE and often visited Longwood Gardens. It was a favorite Sunday afternoon spot for my family. Your post brought back some wonderful memories!
Flowers, no matter what kind, always lighten the heart. My father was an avid gardener. Every visit to see my parents always started with a walk around the garden. Such a joyous welcome to their home.
At 93, i can not hope to visit the gardens but i can enjoy all of them from my desk!
I have visited the gardens at Mohonk Mountain House in New Paltz, NY, the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Delray Beach FL, and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.
Butchart Gardens in British Columbia – breathtaking throughout – wonderful begonias and one shouldn’t miss the experience of taking High Tea there as well.
I love this beautiful glimpse into the world around us. I would request (if not already in existence), a site like this for some culinary contributions.
Thank you for this page, group. I’m a flower girl. 🌼
Love this addition!
2026 has been my summer of garden visits. It took four years to score tickets to the privately owned Les Jardins Quatre Vents in Malbaie, Quebec but so so worth the wait! One turn after another brings wonder to the eyes and stunning views. A visit to the small municipality garden was lovely too. A week later it was to Chanticleer Gardens in Wayne, Pennsylvania another delight. Finally my garden tour summer ended at Longwood Gardens in Kennet Square, Pennsylvania. It’s so huge that one would need days to see it all. My favourite hands down was Les Jardin Quatre Vents. The entire setting is breathtaking. Open only four days during the summer as a fund raiser for a children’s camp and by carefully planned small guided group tours it never felt crowded. I wished I could have scored a ticket for each of the one day a month it’s opened to see what offerings each month brought. Thank you for the Gardens of Three Pine Series. Lovely.
I was hoping for art work or photographs.
If click on linked name of the flowers, you’ll be taken to further descriptions as well as pictures.