The Gardeners Of Eden – The episode begins with an episode of BBC’s Memory Lane Melodies. Edward Appleby (Jonathan Rigby) introduces Octavia Eden (Elaine Paige), the owner of a flower shop chain. Octavia plans to return to Kembleford where she was born and “will die” before Michaelmas.

Isabel Devine (Claudie Blakley) tells Father Brown (Mark Williams) that Octavia did flower arrangements for three royal weddings. Octavia signs Isabel’s copy of her book, “A Rose Against The Thorns.” John Mulch (Philip Martin Brown) asks Marjorie Mulch (Rosalind March) asks why Octavia has so many hats with one head. She assures him that such a successful woman will need them.

Brenda Palmer (Ruby-May Martinwood) asks why she needs to learn flower arrangement. Isabel tells her that she might want to take a bouquet to a dinner party. Father Brown says Brenda probably doesn’t have any interest in it.

Octavia has a sharp pain while putting away her porcelain collection. A crash on the floor sends Lizzy Eden (Jasmine Hyde) and Noele Schama (Kaye Wragg) in to check on her. Octavia asks which one of them will run her 40-year business when she’s gone. She informs them of her plan to test them during a dinner party. They’ll be in charge of mixing drinks utilizing botanical ingredients. Noele reminds her that she doesn’t have any knowledge of herbs and botanicals. Octavia suggests she work harder to make the best concoction.

Octavia leads a dance class. Father Brown starts the music when John knocks over the gramophone. He demands to know why Marjorie’s there. She says dancing as he forcibly escorts her toward their home.

Octavia’s guests try Lizzy’s concoction with rhubarb and hibiscus sabdariffa from her own garden. Noele’s concoction is a mixture of vodka and orange blossom. Brenda describes the taste as being similar to pond water. Octavia agrees. After returning to the party, Marjorie apologizes for John’s behavior. John arrives a short time later clutching his chest before collapsing on the ground. Chief Inspector Sullivan (Tom Chambers) suggests Marjorie poisoned him while he was still at home.

Marjorie claims to have made John porridge with salt and water. Sullivan asks if John showed any signs of illness. She tells him that it was normal for John to have gut pain. She describes him as being “sad” and occasionally “firm.” Sullivan charges and arrests her for murdering John.

Father Brown asks Marjorie if she murdered John. She claims to have potentially overheard John and a woman in a verbal altercation last night. He asks if she could make out what they were saying. She tells him that one of them sneezed.

Octavia tells Lizzy and Noele that their second task will be a wreath for Marjorie. Lizzy asks if she’s utilizing John’s death as part of the competition. Octavia says ruthless florists are the successful ones when Father Brown approaches. He asks Octavia if she remembers John from when she lived in Kembleford before. She denies remembering him when a sharp pang hits. Lizzy tells him that her mother isn’t well.

Noele tells Father Brown that she’s lived with Aunt Octavia for 25 years. He suggests she paid John a visit last night. She claims someone was inside their house last night and John was walking across the garden. She went out to confront him. He asks why she never reported the incident to the police. She says Octavia’s very ill. Octavia’s standing a short distance away.

Octavia describes Lizzy’s wreath as “magnificent” and Noele’s as “prickly.” She tells Noele that she won the task before slipping out of John’s funeral.

Brenda watches as Octavia breaks into Marjorie and John’s home. She follows her inside the house where Sergeant Goodfellow (John Burton) catches her holding a hammer. She tells him that Octavia broke into the house. Octavia’s nowhere to be seen.

Father Brown admits to ordering Brenda to follow Octavia but not onto private property. Sullivan releases Brenda to Isabel. Goodfellow says John died from aconite poisoning. Father Brown says Aconitum napellus (aconite) is a botanical poison. Sullivan tells him that Marjorie’s garden has wolfsbane which has aconite.

Octavia tasks Lizzy and Noele with planning her wake. She tells them that the winner receives her entire estate.

Brenda tells Father Brown and Isabel that Octavia had a hammer. He says florists utilize a hammer to crush flowers. Isabel informs them of Octavia is scheduled to do a book reading for the Kembleford Ladies Society.

Father Brown breaks into Marjorie’s house.

Isabel asks Octavia why she was sad when she was in London. Octavia tells her that she was heartbroken.

Father Brown asks Octavia if she regrets her relationship with John. She admits to having loved John more than life itself. Their relationship ended when John married Marjorie whose father owned the manor. He suggests she left Kembleford to escape it all. She tells him that she broke into the Mulch home in search of a love letter that documented his feelings for her. He asks if she wanted to get revenge. She says her revenge was getting rich while John could barely pay his utility bills.

Lizzy tells Father Brown that it’s vital to determine which species are poisonous when scouring hedgerows. She says many plant species are toxic when taken in excess. He asks if her medicine cabinet is stocked with toxins. She shows him her toxin stash. He asks if aconite is a botanical poison. She hands him a half-empty bottle from her stash. He informs of John’s cause of death, aconite poisoning. She admits to not being fond of John.

Lizzy tells Noele that Octavia’s games are “silly.” Noele suggests she drop out before promising to give her a position in Octavia’s business. Lizzy suggests they work together arranging Octavia’s wake. Noele warns that Octavia might disown them. Lizzy asks if it would be a bad thing if they were friends again.

Marjorie tells Father Brown that she found a letter in which Octavia speaks of having a miscarriage. She says Octavia wished him Merry Christmas.

Kembleford Ladies Society – Lizzy informs Octavia that she and Noele have made peace. Noele says they planned her wake together. Octavia admits to wanting them to reconcile all along. Father Brown tells Noele that Octavia never lost her baby that was born during the Christmas season. The baby was named Noele.

In a flashback, John discovers Noele’s birth certificate the night he broke into her home. Noele tells he can’t be her father. He admits to wishing she had died at birth. Back to the present, Father Brown suggests she made John a bouquet of roses with toxic thorns. When he angrily snatches the roses, the poisoned thorns pricked his fingers.

Noele tells Octavia that she knows she’s her mother. Octavia assures her that she never meant to hurt her. She tells them that she wants them to have a wonderful life before passing away.

As Noele is led away, Lizzy tells her that she won’t know what to do without them. Noele reminds her that they’re cuttings from the strongest tree in the forest.

Lizzy greets Marjorie as she emerges from the station. She gives Father Brown a Tulip Octavia.

Edward Appleby announces Octavia’s death to his listening audience as the episode comes to an end.

 

Father Brown Review

The wealthy flower shop owner, Octavia returns to Kembleford to die. Once best friends, Octavia’s daughter, Lizzy, and niece, Noele are to compete for her estate.

John’s none too happy to see Octavia back in Kembleford. When he’s poisoned, Chief Inspector Sullivan is quick to point the finger at his wife, Marjorie. She’s charged with his murder.

Octavia and John were in a relationship when he left her for Marjorie or her father’s manor. Heartbroken, Octavia relocated to London where she built a flower shop empire. After breaking into Octavia’s home, John discovers Noele is the daughter who was supposed to have died at birth. Noele finds out when she confronts him about the break-in.

Octavia’s condition continues to deteriorate. She tasks Noele and Lizzy with planning her wake. Unknown to her, they work on the project together. When she finds out, she’s thrilled.

Noele arranges a bouquet of roses with thorns tainted with the botanical toxin, aconite. The poisoned thorns prick his fingers during an angry exchange.

The episode deserves a 5.5. Get more Father Brown recaps here. Support Reel Mockery by clicking the link. Ask about our advertising packages to reach hundreds of consumers.