Poirot "How Does Your Garden Grow?", #3.2 (1991) (TV)

"The office of Poirot is closed for business.", 29 July 2015

At a flower show, Poirot literally runs into an old woman in a wheelchair. She seems frightened and will not talk, but insists Poirot take an empty seed packet. After arriving home, Poirot receives a letter from the same woman asking for his help. Between the seed packet and the letter, Poirot is intrigued. So, Poirot and Miss Lemon set out to pay a visit on the mysterious woman. But the mystery only grows when, upon arrival, they discover she's dead. And it's not long before Poirot comes to the conclusion that the old woman was murdered.

There are still several that I have yet to see, but I think it's a safe bet to say How Does Your Garden Grow? will end up as one of the top five favorite hour-long episodes in the series. Unlike the last five or so episodes I've watched, this one has a deliciously entertaining murder. It's the kind of Poirot episode I love. Clues, suspects, motives, red herrings - all the things that make a Poirot mystery enjoyable. The mystery isn't too difficult to solve (As soon as Poirot found the bell, I knew most of the solution. In Agatha Christie's story, I seem to remember more being made of the bell.), but it's still fun to watch Poirot discover the answers. An added bonus in How Does Your Garden Grow? is more screen time for Miss Lemon. Pauline Moran does not disappoint. The rest of the acting is generally strong. However, I did find Anne Stallybrass' Mary Delafontaine a bit over-the-top. Still, I'm giving this episode a strong 8/10.

8/10