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Launching the 2024 spring season of its popular WellSpring Series, The Osborn will host author and horticulturist Marta McDowell discussing her book, Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers, on Wednesday, March 27 at 7:30 p.m. Free and open to the public, the event will be held in The Osborn’s Auditorium at 101 Theall Road in Rye.
From Edgar Allan Poe to Agatha Christie to modern bestsellers, many of our greatest mystery writers have found inspiration in the sinister side of gardens. Gardening Can Be Murder is the first book to explore this genre’s many surprising horticultural connections. Marta McDowell teaches landscape history and horticulture at the New York Botanical Garden where she has been named Instructor of the Year. The author of five books, she was the 2019 recipient of the Garden Club of America Sarah Chapman Francis Medal for outstanding literary achievement.
“It is highly fitting that this entertaining evening features horticulture since enjoying nature is a perennial focus of our life here at The Osborn,” said Matthew G. Anderson, The Osborn’s President and CEO. “It is also a cornerstone of our WellSpring program, which offers an integrated approach to wellbeing that inspires everyone in our community to enjoy life to the fullest.”
The Osborn’s 56-acre campus is the only private arboretum in Westchester County and has over 1,000 trees and 115 species. Residents, staff, and guests enjoy the beautiful environment daily and The Osborn hosts many outdoor activities, including its annual Jack Miller Easter Egg Hunt, nature walks and Arbor Day Celebration.
The Osborn’s signature WellSpring program engages all the dimensions that enrich fulfilling lives: intellectual, social, physical, environmental, occupational, emotional, and spiritual. Through its WellSpring Speaker Series, The Osborn opens its doors to the wider community to share cultural programs that stimulate the mind and delight the heart.
This spring, in addition to Gardening Can Be Murder by Marta McDowell, the public is invited to enjoy Orchestra Lumos: Around the World in 80 Minutes on April 10, and Answers in the Form of Questions: A Definitive History and Insider’s Guide to Jeopardy! by Claire McNeal on May 2. To reserve a seat for these programs, please email RSVP@theosborn.org or call 914-925-8218.
The Osborn has received many accolades for its excellence, including being chosen by readers of Westchester Magazine as “Best of Westchester” in the Senior Residence category in 2023. The Osborn Pavilion skilled nursing center was once again named as a “Best Nursing Home” for 2024 by U.S. News & World Report. The Osborn was also named as one of the nation’s “Best Continuing Care Retirement Communities” by Newsweek. It was also awarded its fifth consecutive five-year accreditation by CARF International, which is widely regarded as the highest standard in senior living excellence.