Jardins de Métis facts for kids
The Jardins de Métis, also called the Reford Gardens, is a beautiful English-style garden. You can find it in Grand-Métis, Quebec. These gardens were once a private space. They opened to the public in 1962. The Canadian government recognized them as a National Historic Site in 1995. Quebec also named them a heritage site in 2013.
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Exploring the Gardens
The Reford Gardens cover a large area. It is about 18 hectares, which is like 45 football fields! Inside, you can discover around 3,000 different kinds of plants.
A Special Place for Plants
The gardens are in a unique spot. They are close to where the St. Lawrence River meets the Mitis River. This location creates a special microclimate. A microclimate is like a mini-weather system. It helps plants grow here that you might not find anywhere else in Canada.
International Garden Festival
Every year since 2000, the gardens host a special event. It is called the International Garden Festival. During this festival, talented landscape artists from all over the world create amazing new gardens. These gardens are often very modern and artistic.
Estevan Lodge
You will also find a historic building called Estevan Lodge. People sometimes call it Villa Reford or Villa Estevan. This building used to be the summer home of Elsie Reford. She was the person who created these gardens. The lodge was built in 1887. Elsie made it bigger in 1926 and 1927. It was fixed up in 2003. Today, you can eat meals there. It also has temporary art shows.
How the Gardens Began
The Reford Gardens were created by a woman named Elsie Reford. She worked on them from 1926 to 1958.
From Fishing to Flowers
The land where the gardens are now was once a fishing spot. It belonged to George Stephen. He was Elsie Reford's uncle. Later, he gave the property to Elsie. Elsie loved to fish. But after she had surgery, her doctor gave her some advice. He suggested she try gardening instead. It was a calmer activity than fishing. That is how her amazing gardens started to grow!
Gallery
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Rest area, 2009
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Villa Estevan, 2009
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Portrait of Elsie Reford
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Reford Gardens
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Every garden needs a shed and a lawn, 10th Edition of the International Garden Festival
