The Jardins de Métis, also known in English as the Reford Gardens, is an English-style garden located at Grand-Métis, Quebec. Originally private, the gardens were opened to the public in 1962. The gardens were designated a

Canadian National Historic Site National Historic Sites of Canada (french: Lieux historiques nationaux du Canada) are places that have been designated by the federal Minister of the Environment on the advice of the Historic Sites and Monuments Board of Canada (HSMBC), as being ...

in 1995 and as a Quebec heritage site by the Ministry of Culture and Communications of Quebec in 2013.

Description

The property covers about 18 hectares (45 acres). The gardens contain approximately 3,000 plant varieties. Thanks to its location near the confluence of the

St. Lawrence Saint Lawrence or Laurence ( la, Laurentius, lit. " laurelled"; 31 December AD 225 – 10 August 258) was one of the seven deacons of the city of Rome under Pope Sixtus II who were martyred in the persecution of the Christians that the Roman ...

and

Mitis River The Mitis River (french: Rivière Mitis) is a salmon river in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region of Quebec, Canada. It flows to the south shore of the Saint Lawrence River. There are two hydroelectric dams on the river at a point where a waterfall used t ...

s, the site has a favourable

microclimate A microclimate (or micro-climate) is a local set of atmospheric conditions that differ from those in the surrounding areas, often with a slight difference but sometimes with a substantial one. The term may refer to areas as small as a few squ ...

which allows plants to grow here that are found nowhere else in Canada. An International Garden Festival has been held here every year since 2000. The festival features contemporary gardens designed by landscape architects and designers from around the world.

Estevan Lodge Estevan Lodge, located in the Reford Gardens (Jardins de Métis) in eastern Quebec, is a stately summer home, in Bas-Saint-Laurent, Quebec. History It was built in 1887 for Sir George Stephen, 1st Baron Mount Stephen. "Estevan" was the cable code ...

, also known as the Villa Reford or Villa Estevan, is a heritage building which was formerly

Elsie Reford Elsie Reford (; January 22, 1872 – November 8, 1967) was a pioneer of Canadian horticulture, creating one of the largest private gardens in Canada on her estate, Estevan Lodge in eastern Quebec. Located in Grand-Métis on the south shore of th ...

's summer home. It was built in 1887 and expanded by her in 1926 and 1927, and restored in 2003. Currently it is used as a dining room and also houses temporary exhibits.

History

The gardens were developed by

between 1926 and 1958. The site was originally a fishing lodge owned by George Stephen, Reford's uncle who later gave the property to Reford. While she was recovering from surgery, her doctor suggested that she take up gardening as a less strenuous alternative to fishing.

Gallery

Image:Jardin de métos pot.JPG, Rest area, 2009 Image:Estevan_Lodge_2009.jpg, Villa Estevan, 2009 Image:Elsie Reford-Lodge 2009.jpg, Portrait of Elsie Reford Image:Reford Garden.JPG, Reford Gardens Image:Every garden-2009.jpg, Every garden needs a shed and a lawn, 10th Edition of the International Garden Festival

References

External links

Les Jardins de Métis/Reford Gardens official site
National Historic Sites in Quebec Botanical gardens in Canada Estate gardens in Canada Heritage sites in Quebec (Cultural Heritage Act) Protected areas of Bas-Saint-Laurent Tourist attractions in Bas-Saint-Laurent {{Garden-stub