A rose as evidence for the defence

10 years ago

I have to admit, with embarrassment, that although I read most of Agatha Christie's mystery stories in my younger days, I have by now forgotten all but the most famous ones, such as "The Murder on the Orient Express" and "And Then There Were None". I thought it was time I got reacquainted with them, and today I came across an Hercule Poirot mystery called "Sad Cypress". The protagonist, Elinor Carlisle, is accused of poisoning a young girl, Mary Gerrard. The case against Elinor is strong, based largely on evidence supplied by apparently well-meaning and gossipy Nurse Hopkins. The nurse's account seems airtight, but there is one little detail that does not satisfy Hercule Poirot. The nurse said she had pricked her finger on a thorn of a rose tree. Poirot finds a witness who proves that she could not have done it, and therefore that the story is a lie and that Nurse Hopkins herself is the real murderer.

Here is the questioning of that witness:

"-You are a rose grower and live at Emsworth, Berks?
- Yes.
- Did you go to Maidensford and examine a rose tree growing at the Lodge at Hunterbury Hall?
- I did.
- Will you describe this tree?
- It was a climbing rose - Zephyrine Drouhin. It bears a sweetly scented pink flower. It has no thorns.
- It would be impossible to prick oneself on a rose tree of this description?
- -It would be quite impossible. It is a thornless tree."

And so Elinor Carlisle is free to enjoy life and marry the man she loves, and Nurse Hopkins goes to the gallows. Because, as we all know, Zephirine Drouhin has no thorns.

After finishing the book, I had to go out into the garden and look at my own Zephirine. Not a "sweetly scented pink flower" in sight, but plenty of long, mildewy and indeed thornless canes, ready to bloom next year. But here it is this spring, the rose that gave away the murderer.

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Comments (14)

ogrose_tx
10 years ago
Good story, Agatha Christie must have know her roses. Great pictures!
Kippy
10 years ago
What a fabulous pair of roses!

I am so jealous, I hear she is more the mildew queen here.
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Last fall, at the national rose convention in Tyler, I attended a round table discussion on RRD. Several university scientists discussed current research in removing afflicted canes, marking the rose, then watching to see if the disease presented in other parts of the rose. One researcher asked for attendees to send him canes with RRD and canes from the same rose that were not showing RRD, or canes from roses that appeared to have survived the disease. I'll have to dig out my notes, but I'll bet he is the person behind the reference "new evidence". I have been using this method to fight RRD for 3 years now. IF I catch the RRD early, meaning it is only visible on one cane, then I can absolutely stop the progress of disease in that rose. I think this technique failed in the Tulsa Rose Garden because so much of the work is done by volunteers, and to catch RRD early, one has to be extremely vigilant, and really know what to look for in early signs. Between 2008-2012, I dug out 35 infected roses in my garden. Since 2012, I've only had 2 that I had to remove--out of over 350 roses! The disease is rampant in this area, and multiflora rose grows wild nearby. I suspect a few canes I've removed in the past year were just roundup damaged canes, but I'm not taking any chances. Henry, once you see a published paper on removing afflicted canes, please let us know! I would like to present the official findings to our local rose society. Fewer and fewer people are growing roses because of this problem, and because of the continued perception that roses have to have chemical treatments to stay pretty. I grow organically, and I invite groups to my garden, but for most people, it's easier to buy crepe myrtles, hibiscus, and salvia for summer color. Commercial plantings that used to have long rows of roses now have shrubby cinquefoil!
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jerijen
10 years ago
One of the things I have loved about Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels is that archaeologist Barbara Mertz (who wrote under both names) clearly knew and loved Old Roses.

In some of her books -- particularly the later Barbara Michaels stories -- roses were prominent parts of the stories.

Those are books that, like Christie, bear repeated readings.

Jeri
sherryocala
10 years ago
Oh, Masha, thank you for sharing Zepherine's story of setting an innocent free. Your bush would set us all free and thrill us to no end if it were in our gardens. Thank you again!! You made me feel so good for having read it.

Sherry

Here is a link that might be useful: If only sweat were irrigation...
kittymoonbeam
10 years ago
Oh wow. It never looked that good here. Congratulations
nanadollZ7 SWIdaho
10 years ago
That is a quite breathtaking pic of ZD and another equally gorgeous rose. Thanks for sharing from a Christie fan who needs to reread her books. Diane
Poorbutroserich Susan Nashville
10 years ago
Who is her more demure, yet no less lovely, companion bush? If my Zeffy looks like that she's a keeper because BOY does she take up the real estate here in my small garden.
Susan
ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
10 years ago
I remember this book well since I used to be a great Christie fan, but that was before I knew about old roses, so it was an interesting plot twist.

Ingrid
mad_gallica (z5 Eastern NY)
10 years ago
Then there is "The Secret of Chimneys". Though I do think I'm giving it away by mentioning it in this thread.
titian1 10b Sydney
10 years ago
Wow! What roses. I tried ZD, but gave her up, very reluctantly, due to BS. Loved the way the flowers cupped, and the scent! What fun to be re-reading AG's books. And Jeri, strangely someone said to me yesterday that she wanted to read a novel where roses were featured, so now I can give her an author's name.
brenda_l_w
10 years ago
Jeri, I didn't know that about Barbara Mertz/Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels. I have only read her Amelia Peabody books and the first Vicky Bliss, which I didn't care for. The Peabody books I can read over and over though. I'm guessing that Vanish with the Rose might be one of the Barbara Michaels' books you refer to?

Also, that ZD is really pretty.
mlle_melanie
10 years ago
Mad_gallica, that is a total spoiler! Mashamcl, I just re-read Sad Cypress about a month ago for the first time since I've started to enjoy old roses. It was fun to finally have a frame of reference! I suspected your post was about just this topic when I saw the title, but I was not expecting the stupendous photos! Wowzers! It might be time to introduce a climbing rose to our back fence; maybe these pics will convince hubby. There's even an arbor...
cath41
10 years ago
And then there is The Rose Rent by Ellis Peters of the Brother Cadfael series.

Cath
jerijen
10 years ago
Yes -- Vanish with The Rose is one of the Barbara Michaels books that touch on roses -- but many of them do, to one degree or another. Enjoy!

Jeri

A rose as evidence for the defence

Comments (14)

ogrose_tx

Kippy

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