Gardening and the Arts features short reviews of movies, mysteries, or other artistic works with a gardening or horticultural theme.

Current Movie
Greenfingers (From the Press Release) Fireworks Pictures and Samuel Goldwyn Films will release GREENFINGERS, starring Clive Owen (CROUPIER), Helen Mirren ("Prime Suspect") and David Kelly (WAKING NED DEVINE). Based on Paula Deitz’s 1998 New York Times article "Free To Grow Bluebells In England," focusing on the real-life gardening exploits of British prisoners, GREENFINGERS is a lighthearted fictional tale about finding beauty in the most unlikely of places. A hit at the 2000 Toronto Film Festival, GREENFINGERS was written and directed by Joel Hershman (HOLD ME, THRILL ME, KISS ME). The film was produced by Daniel J. Victor, Travis Swords and Trudie Styler.

When we first meet Colin Briggs (Clive Owen), he is a man who has given up on life. Nearing the end of a long prison sentence, Colin is transferred to Edgefield, a minimum-security open facility in the Cotswolds. While there, Colin meets Fergus Wilks (David Kelly), an eccentric "lifer". When Colin receives a packet of seeds as a Christmas present from Fergus, he begrudgingly plants them in Edgefield's hard, infertile soil. Much to both men's surprise, the seeds flourish and, by spring, they have blossomed, along with the two men's friendship. The prison warden, impressed by the sight of the beautiful double violets, commissions Colin, Fergus, and three other inmates to cultivate Edgefield's first garden.

The inmates' garden attracts the attention and praise of a flamboyant gardening expert named Georgina Woodhouse (Helen Mirren in a delightful comic turn). Georgina is so taken with the men's unconventional gardening style and splendid results, that she decides to sponsor this motley crew of prisoners at the prestigious Hampton Court Palace Flower Show.

Greenfingers opens this summer. Check your local listings

Previous Title
Death Of A Political Plant by Ann Ripley. Organic Gardener and PBS Gardenshow host, Louise Eldridge is once again up to her knees in muck, murder and intrigue. An old college beau, turned investigative journalist, is in Washington DC on a very secretive assignment. He disappears only to surface in a neighbors koi pond. Chapters in this well paced tale are separated by several witty and quite well done gardening essays. The first of these Houseguests are Like Gardens-Both Should Be Low-Maintenance provides sound suggestions as we move into the guest and garden season.

Previous Title
Devil's Trumpet by Mary Freeman is set along Oregon's Columbia Gorge. Rachel O'Connor, who owns Rain Country landscaping is struggling to keep her business afloat. Her newest client, Henry Bassinger, engages her for a restoration landscaping project at the historic Columbia River Inn. Henry is found dead from a suspicious "accidental" fall over the Gorge and Rachel is suddenly concerned about avoiding accidents herself. Before long Rachel digging out the evidence about Henry's death. The story is nicely paced with gardening information and conveys a good sense of the scenic Columbia River Gorge. We are pleased to note the environmentally sensitive heroine planted her clients lawns with a Nichols Ecology Lawn Mix.