Few gardens have been created in such difficult weather conditions. Located 300 km northeast of Quebec City, the Reford Gardens, created by Elsie Reford, is one of the most northern gardens in North America.
DANS LES JARDINS DE MÉTIS
À la rencontre d’Elsie Reford
ELSIE REFORD
150 Objects of Passion
Join the second year of the Canadian Centre for Architecture’s Master’s Students Program to explore the effects of erosion on the landscape and shorelines surrounding the Jardins de Metis ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-03 Place: Aire Desjardins du Grand hall Price: 0$
In this documentary theatre performance (in French), Christine Beaulieu takes on the persona of a salmon, from egg to adult. She tells the remarkable tale of the Atlantic salmon and their voyage from ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-04 Place: La Véranda de Pierre Thibault aux Jardins de Métis Price: 0$
Recycled Paper-making workshop and mediation on the benefits of trees in an urban environment with the Association forestière bas-laurentienne. Throughout the summer, a team of naturalists holds a r ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-05 - 2024-07-12 - 2024-07-19 - 2024-07-26 - 2024-08-02 - 2024-08-09 - 2024-08-16 - 2024-09-01 - 2024-10-06 - 2024-08-04 Place: Arboretum Price: 0$
Date: 2024-07-05 Place: La Véranda de Pierre Thibault aux Jardins de Métis Price: 0$
Date: 2024-07-06 Place: La Véranda de Pierre Thibault aux Jardins de Métis Price: 0$
Photos : Jean-François Bérubé, JC Lemay LES SAUMONS DE LA MITIS - 2024 Edition / Aperitif theater followed by a culinary evening prepared by chef Frédérick Boucher ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-06 Place: À La Véranda de Pierre Thibault, puis, à la villa Estevan Price: 250$
It’s blue poppy time! Take advantage of this Free Sunday to come see them. Program Paper-making workshop with the Association forestière bas-laurentienne From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at th ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-07 Place: Les Jardins de Métis Price: 0$
Saxofun In collaboration with the Conservatoire de musique de Rimouski. Musicians: Heidi Robichaud (saxophone) and Jean-Gabriel Otis (piano). First performance at 11:30 a.m.Second performance ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-07 - 2024-07-07 Place: Scène Hydro-Québec de l'arboretum | Hydro-Quebec Stage in the Arboretum Price: 0$
With Zachary Richard. Musical Accompaniment: Rick Haworth. Animation: Richard Daigle. For the 24th edition of the Literary Teas, 9 meetings with 13 great voices of literature in Quebec and the musici ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-07 Place: Aire Desjardins du Grand hall | Aire Desjardins, Great Hall Price: 27$
View of Elsie Reford’s excursion in Gaspésie.By Marjelaine Sylvestre, Director of the Museum Department. This activity is free for the members of Les Amis des Jardins de Métis and ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-12 Place: Villa Estevan Price: 0$
Presentation of the Festival’s anniversary theme, Ecology of Possibilities, and of the 2024 projects. This activity is free for the members of Les Amis des Jardins de Métis and for peopl ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-13 - 2024-07-24 Place: Festival - Pergola de Jérôme Lapierre Architecte Price: 0$
Brises françaises Two Rimouski artists will enchant us: the soprano Émilie Ross, a graduate of the Conservatoire de musique de Rimouski. and the pianist Ève-Amélie Dufour, ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-14 - 2024-07-14 Place: Scène Hydro-Québec de l'arboretum | Hydro-Quebec Stage in the Arboretum Price: 0$
With Jean-Philippe Pleau. Animation : Marie-Hélène Voyer. In collaboration with the Salon du livre de Rimouski. For the 24th edition of the Literary Teas, 9 meetings with 13 great voice ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-14 Place: Aire Desjardins du Grand hall | Aire Desjardins, Great Hall Price: 27$
In collaboration with the Conservatoire de musique de Rimouski. Scenic performance workshop with actress Sophie Faucher. Registration required. You can make a voluntary contribution on site to benef ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-15 Place: Aire Desjardins du Grand hall | Aire Desjardins, Great Hall Price: 0$
In collaboration with the Conservatoire de musique de Rimouski. This master class, led by Marc Hervieux, is offered to students from the music conservatories of Gatineau, Rimouski, Saguenay and Trois ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-16 Place: Aire Desjardins du Grand hall | Aire Desjardins, Great Hall Price: 0$
In collaboration with the Conservatoire de musique de Rimouski. La chauve-souris by Johann Strauss II with students from the Conservatoires de musique de Gatineau, Rimouski, Saguenay et Trois-Ri ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-17 Place: La Véranda de Pierre Thibault Price: 23$
In collaboration with the Conservatoire de musique de Rimouski. Special price to attend our 2 Apéro operas! July 17, 5 p.m.: La chauve-souris by Johann Strauss IIJuly 18, 5 p.m.: La classe de ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-17 Place: La Véranda de Pierre Thibault Price: 34.50$
In collaboration with the Conservatoire de musique de Rimouski. La classe de Maestro Catapulto. Text of Pascal Blanchet. With students from the Conservatoires de musique de Gatineau, Rimous ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-18 Place: La Véranda de Pierre Thibault Price: 23$
In collaboration with the Conservatoire de musique de Rimouski Vocal technique workshop for choristers, with Peggy Bélanger, singing teacher at the Conservatoire de musique de Trois-Rivi&egrav ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-19 Place: Aire Desjardins du Grand hall | Aire Desjardins, Great Hall Price: 0$
Have you been thinking about trying out wet collodion photography? You are in the right place! This mini-introductory workshop is aimed at people wishing to discover and experiment with the creation ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-19 Place: Les Jardins de Métis Price: 225$
Jazz Concert : Carl Mayotte QuintetRegistration required, go here. Transporting audiences on an epic musical adventure, the Carnaval concert by the Carl Mayotte Quintet is sure to be one of the must- ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-19 Place: Aire Desjardins du Grand hall | Aire Desjardins, Great Hall Price: 34.50$
Date: 2024-07-20 Place: Les Jardins de Métis Price: 225$
In collaboration with the Conservatoire de musique de Rimouski. Summer choir, with Josée Fortin as musical director. First performance at 11:30 a.m.Second performance at 1 p.m. The duration ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-21 - 2024-07-21 Place: Scène Hydro-Québec de l'arboretum | Hydro-Quebec Stage in the Arboretum Price: 0$
In collaboration with the Centaur Theater and the Théâtre du Bic. Alice Pascual shares with us the very first stages of creating her theatrical project on Elsie Reford. After a month of ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-21 Place: Villa Estevan Price: 0$
With Louis Hamelin. Musical Accompaniment: Robin Servant. Animation : Claude La Charité. For the 24th edition of the Literary Teas, 9 meetings with 13 great voices of literature in Quebe ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-21 Place: Aire Desjardins du Grand hall | Aire Desjardins, Great Hall Price: 27$
Jardins féeriques In collaboration with the Conservatoire de musique de Rimouski. Musicians: Aurélie Quimper-Bouchard (violon) and Michel-Alexandre Broekaert (piano). First performanc ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-28 - 2024-07-28 Place: Scène Hydro-Québec de l'arboretum | Hydro-Quebec Stage in the Arboretum Price: 0$
Catherine Perrin and Pierre Thibault are our guest for a conversation on La Véranda, the architectural work created in 2021 to offer a performance space for artists a place which brings us joy. ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-28 Place: La Véranda de Pierre Thibault Price: 0$
In collaboration with Heritage Lower St-Lawrence. Opening act is Matane-based artist John Kerkhoven, on harmonica. Concert proceeds go to the renovation and revitalization of the community hub at Caf ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-07-30 Place: Église presbytérienne de la Pointe-Leggatt (1884-2024) | Leggatt’s Point Presbyterian Church (1884-2024) Price: 25$
Program Paper-making workshop with the Association forestière bas-laurentienne From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Arboretum Musical Picnic | Le Xylophone dans tous ses états with Gabriel ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-08-04 Place: Les Jardins de Métis Price: 0$
The teams from the kitchens, gardens and exhibitions are conspiring to create a memorable evening inspired by the magical outdoor meals that feature in the photo albums of Elsie Reford and her family. ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-08-10 Place: Les Jardins de Métis Price: 250$
Literary Walk and Literary Tea with Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette and Steve Gagnon. Musical Accompaniment: Anne Bilodeau - violon. For the 24th edition of the Literary Teas, 9 meetings with 13 great v ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-08-18 Place: Aire Desjardins du Grand hall | Aire Desjardins, Great Hall Price: 27$
With Mireille Gagné and Charles Sagalane. Animation : Annie Landreville. For the 24th edition of the Literary Teas, 9 meetings with 13 great voices of literature in Quebec and the musicians wh ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-08-25 Place: Aire Desjardins du Grand hall | Aire Desjardins, Great Hall Price: 27$
Program Paper-making workshop with the Association forestière bas-laurentienne From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Arboretum Multidisciplinary Installation | Le chant des bélugas | Cr&eacu ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-09-01 Place: Les Jardins de Métis Price: 0$
Duo Chorus with Daphné B. and Carol-Ann Belzil-Normand. In collaboration with Rhizome. For the 24th edition of the Literary Teas, 9 meetings with 13 great voices of literature in Quebec and th ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-09-08 Place: Aire Desjardins du Grand hall | Aire Desjardins, Great Hall Price: 27$
It's autumn and the gardens are very colorful! We have prepared many activities for you, there is something for everyone. It's free for residents of the province of Quebec! _____ On the first Sunday ... (View the event)
Date: 2024-10-06 Place: Les Jardins de Métis Price: 0$
Grand-Métis (Québec) Canada, June 12, 2024 – The team from the Gardens are working with artists, curators, researchers and organizations to offer a range of exhibitions linked to t ... (View the event)
Anniversary Program Unveiled – The International Garden Festival will present its 25th edition from June 22 to October 6, 2024, on the theme The Ecology of Possibility. For this m ... (View the event)
To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the International Garden Festival, the Festival is celebrating in style with many events and activities. The Journées de réflexion [Discussion D ... (View the event)
On the eve of the inauguration of its anniversary edition, which will run from June 22 to October 6, 2024, on the theme The Ecology of Possibilities, the Reford Gardens International Garden Festival a ... (View the event)
The International Garden Festival is pleased to launch its fourth call for proposals for the RBC Residencies at La Maison d'Ariane, in the picturesque village of Métis-sur-Mer. This call is ... (View the event)
The International Garden Festival is pleased to announce the projects selected for its 25th edition, titled The Ecology of Possibility, which will run from June 22 to October 6, 2024. On the occasion ... (View the event)
Sainte-Flavie, September 26, 2023. With the help of the Fonds de solidarité FTQ, TELUS, the municipality of Sainte-Flavie and a group of volunteers, the Jardin de bord mer II took root recently ... (View the event)
The International Garden Festival is launching a call for proposals to select designers to create the new temporary gardens for the Festival’s 25th edition, which will open on June 21, 2024, on ... (View the event)
Grand-Métis, September 5, 2023 – The International Garden Festival is pleased to announce the start of the RBC autumn residences at the Maison d’Ariane in Métis-sur-Mer. The ... (View the event)
Grand-Métis, August 21, 2023 – The Reford Gardens open the temporary exhibition Dernière lueur / Last Light by photographic artist Christine Fitzgerald on Wednesday, August 23. The ... (View the event)
Grand-Métis, Quebec, June 24, 2023 – The 24th edition of the International Garden Festival, titled RACINES | ROOTS, is now open to the public. This year, È ... (View the event)
Grand-Métis, May 1, 2023 – Les Jardins de Métis is launching a new publication that highlights the horticultural achievements and unique plant collections of Elsie Reford. Dans ... (View the event)
Grand-Métis, April 27, 2023 – Les Jardins de Métis/Reford Gardens presents, from June 3 to October 1, 2023, an exhibition exploring the influence of fashion illustrations on the re ... (View the event)
Grand-Métis, March 6, 2023 – Les Jardins de Métis is launching a new publication that celebrates the life and contributions of Elsie Reford. The book is being launched at Montreal& ... (View the event)
Grand-Métis, Quebec, Canada, January 11, 2023 – The International Garden Festival is pleased to announce the projects selected for its 24th edition, titled ROOTS, which will run from June ... (View the event)
Grand-Métis, November 9, 2022 - The International Garden Festival congratulates sculptor Pierre Bourgault, who took part in our 2005 edition, on winning a Governor General’s Award in Visu ... (View the event)
Métis-sur-Mer, November 8, 2022. The International Garden Festival is pleased to launch its third call for proposals for the RBC Residencies at La Maison d'Ariane, in the picturesque villag ... (View the event)
Grand-Métis, Québec, Canada, October 3, 2022 – The International Garden Festival is launching a call for proposals to select designers to create the new temporary gardens for the F ... (View the event)
Grand-Métis, September 21, 2022 - The International Garden Festival of the Reford Gardens welcomes, from September 5 to October 2, 2022, actress and playwright Camille Paré-Poirier and v ... (View the event)
Grand-Métis, September 8, 2022 - Ms. Lise Gagné and Mr. Alexander Reford, respectively Chair of the Board of Directors and Executive Director of the International Garden Festival of the ... (View the event)
Grand-Métis, August 28, 2022 - Silent for a century, Elsie Reford’s violin will be played for the first time at a concert on Sunday, August 28 at 1.30 pm at Les Jardins de Métis. C ... (View the event)
Created from 1926 to 1958 by pioneering horticulturist Elsie Reford, the Reford Gardens are a National Historic Site of Canada. Some 3,000 species and varieties of plants, including the famous Himalayan blue poppy, are spread over fifteen gardens.
It’s in the summer of 1926 that Elsie Reford (1872-1967) began transforming her fishing camp on the Metis River into a garden. Hundreds of miles from the nearest nursery, Elsie Reford is faced with challenges that would be difficult to imagine today. Where experienced specialists had failed, she succeeded in turning her spruce forest into a gigantic garden that would become one of the largest plant collections of its time. Elsie hired and trained people from the region like farmers and fishing guides in order to turn them into master gardeners. Over three decades, they’ve built a magnificent garden together.
An innovative cultural space, the Reford Gardens welcome a large number of artists each year and present an array of exhibitions scattered throughout the gardens and beyond its grounds.
The Amis des Jardins collection is based on memories and physical traces gathered by the estate owners throughout their lives, as well as on the development of a collection of contemporary works related to the historic and contemporary gardens.
Well established in its community, the Reford Gardens are a cultural hub in the region. Literary teas, outdoor concerts, lectures, training sessions, happy hours, culinary events, outdoor hikes, environmental chores… in short, a program for all tastes.
Rooted in history, but resolutely looking to the future, the Villa Estevan Lodge restaurant, Café-Bistrot Le Bufton and the Buvette des Jardins feature inspired local cuisine. Our chef Frédérick Boucher and his brigade work with our gardeners to develop innovative dishes that evolve with the seasons and harvest.
Click on the picture to enlarge it
Discover a fantastic ally of the Reford Gardens – Pierre and his firm Umanium, a pillar for the Gardens’ museology department.
We celebrate here the passing of M. Lavoie, the first director of the Reford Gardens when it was open to the public.
Day in and day out, we get photos from visitors or see them posted and shared on social media. Now it is our turn to show off a few photos of our own.