Gunpowder Green

Chapter 27

Wynton Marsalis played on the CD player, and she was deep into Pearl Buck’s Pavilion of Women when Professor Morrow called. “Miss Browning,” he said in his somewhat distracted manner, “I hope I’ve not phoned too late.” Theodosia glanced at the baroque brass clock that sat on the pine mantel, saw that it was just half past eight.

“Not at all, Professor Morrow,” she said, sliding a bookmark between the pages and closing her book. Her heart seemed to thump an extra beat in anticipation of his news. “I’m delighted you called. In fact, I’ve been looking forward to hearing from you,” she told him.

“Good, good,” he said. “Took me longer than I thought. But then, everything takes longer these days, doesn’t it? I’m teaching a two-week interim course this June, and Kiplinger, our department head, just now suggested I develop an online syllabus. So of course I had to scramble—”

“What’s the course?” asked Theodosia, trying to be polite.

“Herbaceous perennials,” said Professor Morrow.

“Simple to teach, not a lot to prepare, and students always seem to like it.”

“Great,” said Theodosia. “I really want to thank you for taking time to do this soil analysis.

“Right,” said Professor Morrow, “the analysis.”

Theodosia had a mental picture of Professor Morrow adjusting his glasses and thumbing through his notes, ready to deliver a short lecture to her.

“I ran a standard micronutrient test, measured levels of sulfur, iron, manganese, copper, zinc, and boron. As far as pH level goes, I’d have to say your dirt came from an area where the soil was quite acidic.”

“What kind of plants grow in acidic soil?” asked Theodosia.

“Are we talking flowers or shrubs?” asked Professor Morrow.

Theodosia made an educated guess. “Flowers.” In her mind’s eye, she could imagine someone stepping out into his garden, shoving the point of a trowel into soft, black dirt, then scooping that dirt into a plastic bag to carry to the yacht club.

“Flowers,” said Professor Morrow, weighing the possibilities. “Then you’re talking something like verbena, marigold, calliopsis, or nicotiana. Of course, those varieties are all annuals. In perennials, you’d be looking at baptisia, coreopsis, platycodon, or silene.”

“Wow,” said Theodosia, feeling slightly overwhelmed.

“Of course, roses are also notorious for preferring acidic soil, but you can’t have it too acidic. The demanding little darlings prefer a pH balance somewhere between

5.5 and 6.5. Any more than that, and they get chlorotic.” “What does that mean?” “Their leaves mottle,” said Professor Morrow.