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Celebrating Reford Gardens and Their Creator, Elsie Reford

With spring’s fresh temperatures and regular rain, the renowned Reford Gardens will be at their best this summer. But there’s another great reason to visit Québec’s beautiful Bas-Saint-Laurent region this year: it’s Elsie’s birthday!

Official visual support for the event. Illustration: Sébastien Thibault

Yes, 2022 marks the 150th anniversary of the unique creator of Reford Gardens, Elsie Reford. Born in 1872, she started gardening at age 54 and in less than 40 years, she accomplished what so few can achieve. She created a garden so unique that many specialists have qualified it as one of the most sumptuous gardens of North America. And one of the few to be found at such a northern latitude.

To celebrate this occasion, public lectures, performances, podcasts, cooking events, picnics and concerts will resonate everywhere in the gardens this summer. Special events in collaboration with the Conservatoire de musique de Rimouski will also take place in the brand new Great Hall, an ambitious sustainable green-building, designed by Pierre Thibault and Marie-Hélène Nollet. The opening of the Great Hall will grant us access to an all new part of the gardens. How exciting!

Reford Gardens are open to visitors every day, between 8:30 am and 6 pm, up until October 2nd 2022. You can check out the event schedule for further details.

See you this summer, in Elsie’s Gardens!

Julie Boudreau is a horticulturist who trained at the Institut de technologie agroalimentaire in Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec. She’s been working with plants for more than 25 years. She has published many gardening books and hosted various radio and television shows. She now teaches horticulture at the Centre de formation horticole of Laval. A great gardening enthusiast, she’s devoted to promoting gardening, garden design, botany and ecology in every form. Born a fan of organic gardening, she’s curious and cultivates a passion for all that can be eaten. Julie Boudreau is “epicurious” and also fascinated by Latin names.

5 comments on “Celebrating Reford Gardens and Their Creator, Elsie Reford

  1. P Taylor

    Another blue poppy season passes as Canada continues to exclude the unvaxxed from crossing the border to wander the magical Jardins de Metis. So very ignorant, draconian, and exceedingly sad.

  2. What a shame! I’d love to visit, however as an American who hasn’t received a covid injection, apparently the Canadian government thinks it’s ok to discriminate against me and requires that I quarantine for 14 days at my own expense. What a shame to see the beautiful country of Canada under such an unscientific regime. Perhaps I’ll be able to visit when sanity returns to your lovely country.

    • marianwhit

      It is not going anywhere. In Canada freedom does not entitle someone to risk another’s life. Sometimes one’s choices and convictions have consequences…sorry.

  3. Patricia Taylor

    Would that Canada would lift its draconian ban on us unvaccinated entering the country to simply walk among blue poppies. Joyless goverment!

    • marianwhit

      You might study up on the health system here. We cannot afford to have guests who put the vulnerable at risk. As an immune compromised person, I appreciate the concern the Canadian government has for its citizens.

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