Death of a Political Plant

Praise for the gardening mysteries of Ann Ripley

DEATH OF A GARDEN PEST

MULCH

Other Gardening Mysteries by Ann Ripley

MULCH

DEATH OF A GARDEN PEST

TO VIRGINIA

T
HANKS TO THE MANY PEOPLE WHO ENCOURAGED
me and helped me in the writing of this book, notably, Kate Miciak, my editor, for her spirited ideas; and Jane Jordan Browne, my agent, for her counsel. Special expertise came from koi experts Jim Brunk, Joyce Conrad, and Bob Kennedy; Steve Still of the Perennial Plant Association; the National Gallery of Art; The Denver Botanic Gardens; the Fairfax County, Virginia, Medical Examiner; and Emeritus Professor Roger Knutson, who writes about roadkill, skunk cabbage, and other flora and fauna. My gratitude goes to those who patiently read, listened, and offered advice: Margaret Coel, Sybil Downing, Karen Gilleland, Connie and Tom Lynch, Beverly Carrigan, Ken and Phyllis Baker, Jim Mahoney, Bill Barnds, Keith Jackson, Irene Sinclair, Jessie Lew Mahoney, James K. Anderson, Mary Lou Butcher, and my husband, Tony. I also am indebted to the houseguests over the years who provided me with so much useful material.

H
OUSEGUESTS
A
RE
L
IKE
G
ARDENS—
B
OTH
S
HOULD
B
E
L
OW
-M
AINTENANCE

G
ETTING
B
OGGED
D
OWN AND
L
OVING
I
T
: T
HE
W
ONDERS OF THE
B
OG
G
ARDEN

T
HE
F
ISHY
T
HING
A
BOUT A
W
ATER
G
ARDEN

H
OW TO
P
UT
S
ERENITY INTO A
S
MALL
G
ARDEN

F
OLLOWING
O
NE’S
N
ATIVE
I
NSTINCTS
: N
ATURAL
G
ARDENING
G
OES
M
AINSTREAM

C
OVERING
U
P
: A
LL
A
BOUT
G
ROUND
C
OVERS

P
OLITICALLY
I
NCORRECT
P
LANTS
, C
ONCEITS, AND
F
OLLIES

T
HE
E
NCHANTING
I
NNOCENCE OF THE
A
NNUAL

D
OING
I
T
Y
OUR
W
AY
: H
UBRIS IN THE
N
AME OF
G
ARDENING
I
S
N
O
V
ICE

T
HERE
I
S
N
O
E
ND OF
U
SES FOR
G
ARDEN
T
OOLS