Happy Friday, GPODers!
Are you a snowbird, or do you like to hit the road the second summer weather hits? No matter what season you prefer to travel, there is likely a public garden that would make an excellent addition to your getaway. If you find yourself traveling to the eastern shores of Canada this summer, Gloria Timmons from Beaconsfield, Quebec, has shared a garden worthy of a spot on your itinerary. Jardins de Métis/Reford Gardens is a designated historic site in Grand-Métis, Quebec, with a surrounding landscape that is as stunning as the cultivated spaces within its grounds. Designed in the abundant English style, these gardens are filled with amazing plants, interesting art, and fascinating history.
I thought many of your readers may be planning some road trips for the summer. This garden is situated in one of the most beautiful areas of Quebec, Canada. It is at the entrance of a loop road that circles a peninsula that protrudes into the Gulf of St. Lawrence, known as La Gaspésie.
This public garden at the entrance to the Gaspé peninsula of Eastern Canada in Quebec province is a little jewel. It was rescued in 1995 by Alexander Reford, great-grandson of Elsie Reford, its creator. Post surgery, she was told by her doctor to avoid strenuous activities like fishing, hunting, and horseback riding. Elsie took up gardening!
This is a digital painting by T. M. Glass, Toronto artist in residence, 2018, of the famous Himalayan blue poppy (Meconopsis betonicifolia, Zones 4–7). The blue poppy made its debut at the Chelsea Flower Show in 1926, and many historical gardeners were anxious to cultivate it. Elsie must have recognized a microclimate in Métis (the garden is in Zone 4), as she was one of the few successful gardeners to grow and harvest seeds of this rare beauty.
Unfortunately, I have never visited the gardens during July when it flowers, but here are the nursery plants. I have visited the garden many times but always on my way to visit my family in Percé during August.
Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica, Zones 3–8) along a pathway. Early summer plants can be found even in August in this part of the country.
Mosses and a “bonsaied” conifer growing in a creative way on an old tree stump, and a millstone.
Throughout the garden, there are works of art by local artists. This is a plexiglass and aluminum sculpture by Marie Claude Hamel. It is an ode to the garden’s emblem; it gleams when the sun is shining.
The growing season is very short in this part of the country (June through September). A mixed border of common traditional flowers: everything seems to bloom at the same time.
These blue globe thistles (Echinops ritro, Zones 3–8) growing along a wilder pathway that leads to the International Garden Festival Grounds: Each year, international artists are invited to present their interpretation of a theme. The theme for 2025 was “Borders,” rather significant for Canadians at this time.
The lodge and gardens are situated at the junction of the Métis River and the St. Lawrence River. Elsie used these mussel shells, which she crushed, to create a pathway she called the Long Walk. It is a traditional English perennial border.
Thank you so much for sharing this spectacular garden with us, Gloria! As someone who is constantly looking for lesser-known gardens to explore, Jardins de Métis just found a spot on my garden bucket list.
Is there a public garden near you that deserves more attention? Please consider sharing photos of your favorite public garden with the blog. Follow the NEW directions below to submit your photos to Garden Photo of the Day!
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