1935: Hercule Poirot (played by David Suchet) attends the Chelsea Flower Show where he is excited to discover that a new rose is to be named after him. Here, he meets an elderly wheelchair bound lady called Amelia Barrowby (played by Margery Mason) who gives him an empty packet of garden seeds, which arouses the attention of the master sleuth. On returning to his apartment, Poirot opens his letters and finds that Amelia has written to him asking for his help because she believes her life to be in danger. Accompanied by his secretary Miss Lemon (played by Pauline Moran), Poirot goes to Amelia's Surrey cottage and discovers that she has been murdered, poisoned by strychnine. It transpires that she had left everything in her will to her loyal Russian maid Katrina Reiger (played by Catherine Russell) and, in consequence, she becomes Chief Inspector Japp's (played by Philip Jackson) prime murder suspect. Poirot, however, has his doubts. Amelia's untrustworthy only living relatives Mary and Henry Delafontaine (played by Anna Stallybrass and Tim Wylton) moved into her home as her carers in return for a roof over their heads. It turns out they had lost a lot of money on the stock exchange when the financial crash hit. Both make it clear that they dislike Katrina intensely. Could they be responsible for their aunt's death?
All in all, How Does Your Garden Grow? Is another first rate addition to this marvellous series. There is some charm and wit to be found where Poirot buys an expensive new aftershave to wear to the flower show and, at the same time, Captain Hastings (played as ever by Hugh Fraser) appears to be suffering from hay fever, which is unusual for him. Later on it turns out that he has been suffering from an allergic reaction to Poirot's aftershave! In addition, Hastings is left in charge of the office while Poirot and Miss Lemon go to Surrey to solve the case. A tradesman calls demanding payment of his outstanding account. Hastings, in searching for the invoice, pulls apart Miss Lemon's filing system which, of course, only she understands. On her return, she is furious. Not only for making a mess of her files, but because he paid off the tradesman in cash: "Never pay tradesmen in cash, otherwise they'll think your cheques are unreliable", she tells him sternly. It is here where, unwittingly, Miss Lemon and Hastings have provided Poirot with the final clue to unmasking Amelia's killer. As always the acting is of a very high standard: Catherine Russell evokes a real depth of feeling as the murdered woman's loyal Russian maid, Katrina, whom everyone assumes is a spy for the communist regime as well as believing her to be responsible for her mistress's death. But, in actual fact, it later transpires that she is from an aristocratic family who fled the country when Stalin came to power. Anne Stallybrass and Tim Wylton are also fine as Amelia's shifty sole surviving relatives who accuse Katrina of every crime going, but are less keen to admit that they were totally dependent on Amelia's money to survive. David Suchet, Hugh Fraser Philip Jackson and Pauline Moran all offer their usual excellent performances as Poirot, Hastings, Chief Inspector Japp and Miss Lemon providing the chemistry and wit for the show. Andrew Marshall's script is witty and artful in the way it lays on the clues and red herrings (a key to the mystery lies in the story's title which is taken from an old nursery rhyme), but playing fair with the audience before reaching a satisfactory denouement. The solid direction is by Brian Farnham who made several episodes for this series.
All in all, How Does Your Garden Grow? Is another first rate addition to this marvellous series. There is some charm and wit to be found where Poirot buys an expensive new aftershave to wear to the flower show and, at the same time, Captain Hastings (played as ever by Hugh Fraser) appears to be suffering from hay fever, which is unusual for him. Later on it turns out that he has been suffering from an allergic reaction to Poirot's aftershave! In addition, Hastings is left in charge of the office while Poirot and Miss Lemon go to Surrey to solve the case. A tradesman calls demanding payment of his outstanding account. Hastings, in searching for the invoice, pulls apart Miss Lemon's filing system which, of course, only she understands. On her return, she is furious. Not only for making a mess of her files, but because he paid off the tradesman in cash: "Never pay tradesmen in cash, otherwise they'll think your cheques are unreliable", she tells him sternly. It is here where, unwittingly, Miss Lemon and Hastings have provided Poirot with the final clue to unmasking Amelia's killer. As always the acting is of a very high standard: Catherine Russell evokes a real depth of feeling as the murdered woman's loyal Russian maid, Katrina, whom everyone assumes is a spy for the communist regime as well as believing her to be responsible for her mistress's death. But, in actual fact, it later transpires that she is from an aristocratic family who fled the country when Stalin came to power. Anne Stallybrass and Tim Wylton are also fine as Amelia's shifty sole surviving relatives who accuse Katrina of every crime going, but are less keen to admit that they were totally dependent on Amelia's money to survive. David Suchet, Hugh Fraser Philip Jackson and Pauline Moran all offer their usual excellent performances as Poirot, Hastings, Chief Inspector Japp and Miss Lemon providing the chemistry and wit for the show. Andrew Marshall's script is witty and artful in the way it lays on the clues and red herrings (a key to the mystery lies in the story's title which is taken from an old nursery rhyme), but playing fair with the audience before reaching a satisfactory denouement. The solid direction is by Brian Farnham who made several episodes for this series.