Jardins de Métis

The Jardins de Métis, also known in English as the Reford Gardens, is an English-style garden located at Grand-Métis, Quebec.[1] Originally private, the gardens were opened to the public in 1962.[2] The gardens were designed a Canadian National Historic Site in 1995[1] and as a Quebec heritage site by the Ministry of Culture and Communications of Quebec in 2013.[3]

Description

The property covers about 18 hectares (45 acres). The gardens contain approximately 3,000 plant varieties.[4] Thanks to its location near the confluence of the St. Lawrence and Mitis Rivers, the site has a favourable microclimate which allows plants to grow here that are found nowhere else in Canada.[1]

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.[5]

Estevan Lodge, also known as the Villa Reford or Villa Estevan, is a heritage building which was formerly Reford's summer home. It was built in 1887 and expanded by Reford in 1926 and 1927. It was restored in 2003. It is used as a dining room and also houses temporary exhibits.[6][7]

History

The gardens were developed by Elsie Reford between 1926 and 1958. The site was originally a fishing lodge owned by George Stephen, Reford's uncle[1] 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.[2]

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "Jardins de Métis National Historic Site of Canada". Canada's Historic Places. Parks Canada.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "History". Jardins de Métis.
  3. ↑ "Jardins de Métis". Patrimoine culturel du Québec (in French). Ministère de la Culture et des Communications Québec.
  4. ↑ "Reford Gardens". Official tourist site of the Gouvernement du Québec.
  5. ↑ "Festival: 2014 Edition". Jardins de Métis.
  6. ↑ "Estevan Lodge: A Historic House at the heart of the Gardens". Jardins de Métis.
  7. ↑ "Villa Estevan". Patrimoine culturel du Québec (in French). Ministère de la Culture et des Communications Québec.

External links

Coordinates: 48°37′48″N 68°07′34″W / 48.630°N 68.126°W