Launching the 2024 spring season of its popular WellSpring Series, The Osborn will host author and horticulturist Marta McDowell discussing her book, “Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers,” on Wednesday, March 27, at 7:30 p.m. Free and open to the public, the event will be held in The Osborn’s Auditorium at 101 Theall Road in Rye.
From Edgar Allan Poe to Agatha Christie to modern bestsellers, many of our greatest mystery writers have found inspiration in the sinister side of gardens. Gardening Can Be Murder is the first book to explore this genre’s many surprising horticultural connections. McDowell teaches landscape history and horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden where she has been named Instructor of the Year. The author of five books, she was the 2019 recipient of the Garden Club of America Sarah Chapman Francis Medal for outstanding literary achievement.
“It is highly fitting that this entertaining evening features horticulture since enjoying nature is a perennial focus of our life here at The Osborn,” said Matthew G. Anderson, The Osborn’s President and CEO. “It is also a cornerstone of our WellSpring program, which offers an integrated approach to wellbeing that inspires everyone in our community to enjoy life to the fullest.”
The Osborn’s 56-acre campus is the only private arboretum in Westchester County and has over 1,000 trees and 115 species. Residents, staff and guests enjoy the beautiful environment daily and The Osborn hosts many outdoor activities, including its annual Jack Miller Easter Egg Hunt, nature walks and Arbor Day Celebration.
The Osborn’s signature WellSpring program engages all the dimensions that enrich fulfilling lives: intellectual, social, physical, environmental, occupational, emotional, and spiritual. Through its WellSpring Speaker Series, The Osborn opens its doors to the wider community to share cultural programs that stimulate the mind and delight the heart.
