A national historic site of Canada and a Québec heritage site, the Reford Gardens are a must-see for anyone visiting Gaspésie or Bas-Saint-Laurent. A cultural space and tourist destination, the Reford Gardens provide visitors with varied experiences that awaken all the senses. Some 3000 species and varieties of plants, including the famous Himalayan blue poppy, can be found in over a dozen gardens. Estevan Lodge presents a permanent exhibition about Elsie Reford, who created the gardens from 1926 to 1958. During your visit, you can also tour the vegetable garden and a museum of gardening tools. Dine at the Estevan Lodge restaurant to discover the edible plants and herbs that inspire the gardens’ chef.

Starting in late June, the 25th edition of the International Garden Festival presents innovative contemporary gardens designed by landscape architects, architects and artists from around the world. Conceptual gardens give visitors the opportunity to experience contemporary art and offer children a giant playground in which to explore fun and interactive installations.

Be sure to also visit the ERE 132 Eco Home, an interpretive centre on green building.

Discover two exhibitions about the life of Elsie Reford: a new exhibition, Elsie, Through the Eyes of…, and a virtual exhibition, Elsie in Her Own Words (elsiereford.ca). Explore the many sides of Reford’s fascinating life beyond the gardens that made her famous: she was also a committed political activist and philanthropist as well as a nature lover.

The Reford Gardens are located in Grand-Métis, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence River, midway between Rimouski and Matane.

By car

Driving from the west: Take Highway 20 until it ends at Trois-Pistoles, then head east on Route 132. Continue on Highway 20 until you reach the end of this highway, then pick up Route 132 again and follow the tourist signs for “Jardins de Métis” (Reford Gardens).

Driving from the east: From Percé, take Route 132 along the St. Lawrence River. After Matane, follow the tourist signs for “Jardins de Métis” (Reford Gardens).

Driving from the south: From Campbellton, take Route 132 West. After Mont-Joli, follow the tourist signs for “Jardins de Métis” (Reford Gardens).

By bus

A bus departs daily from Québec City and Montréal (with stops in Rimouski and Rivière-du-Loup) to Mont-Joli.

Orléans Express: www.orleansexpress.com or 1-888-999-3977

By train

Trains run from Montréal and Halifax to Mont-Joli.

Via Rail: www.viarail.ca or 1-800-361-5390 / 1-888-VIA-RAIL

By plane

The Reford Gardens are a 10-minute drive from the Mont-Joli airport.

Air Canada (Air Canada Jazz): www.aircanada.ca) or 1-888-247-2262
Pascan Aviation: www.pascan.com or 1-888-313-8777

By ferry

Four (4) ferries link the two shores, making the Reford Gardens easily accessible for travellers coming from the north shore of the St. Lawrence River.

Matane–Baie-Comeau–Godbout
Phone: 1 877 562-6560
Website: www.traversiers.com/en/

Trois-Pistoles–Les Escoumins 
Phone: 1-877-851-4677
Website: www.traversiercnb.ca

Saint-Siméon–Rivière-du-Loup
Phone: 418-862-9545
Rates: 418-862-5094
Website: www.traverserdl.com

Affiliations

• Tourisme Gaspésie
• Must-See Attractions Gaspésie
• Tourisme Mitis
• Québec Gardens’ Association
• Canada’s Garden Route

Distinctions

2019

• Gourmet Tourism Award, Laurier Awards of Québec Gastronomy

2018

• Gold University of Guelph / Food Day Canada Good Food Innovation Award – awarded to the chef of the Estevan Lodge restaurant
• 5 Blooms awarded in the “Special Attractions” category (national edition) by Communities in Bloom
• Senate of Canada 150th Anniversary Medal – awarded to the Reford Gardens
• Finalist for the Attractions Prize (SATQ) for the Tourism Excellence Awards in the “Innovation and Development” category

2015

• LEED® Platinum and Novoclimat 2.0 certification – awarded to the ERE 132 Eco Home
• 5 Blooms and a Special Mention for Sustainable Garden Initiatives – awarded in the “Special Attractions” category (national edition) by Communities in Bloom

2014

• 5 Blooms for Excellence in Marketing and Horticultural Communication – awarded in the “Special Attractions” category (national edition) by Communities in Bloom
• Bronze Québec Tourism Award – awarded in the “Tourism Human Resources” category to Pierre-Olivier Ferry, Chef and Coordinator of Restaurant Services
• Gold University of Guelph / Food Day Canada Good Food Innovation Award – awarded to the chef of the Estevan Lodge restaurant
• Garden of the Year, Canadian Garden Tourism Awards – awarded by the Canadian Garden Council

2013

• 5 Blooms and a Special Mention for Exceptional Floral Diversity – awarded in the “Special Attractions” category (national edition) by Communities in Bloom

2012

• Production and Processing Award – awarded for the Reford Gardens’ gourmet products at the La Mitis Business Gala
• Most Imaginative Garden Design Award – awarded for asensio_mah’s Surface Deep garden by Canada Blooms in Toronto
• Named a Bas-Saint-Laurent Wonder and the 11th Wonder of Québec – according to a Léger Marketing / Journal de Montréal – Journal de Québec survey
• 5 Blooms and a Special Mention for Excellence in Horticultural Design and Maintenance – awarded in the “Special Attractions” category (national edition) by Communities in Bloom

2011

• Gaïa Award for Excellence in Food Packaging – awarded in the “Gourmet Products” category to the Reford Gardens marinades, designed by Emulsion stratégie marketing
• 5 Blooms and a Special Mention for the Integration of Art and Sculptures – awarded in the “Special Attractions” category (national edition) by Communities in Bloom
• Outstanding Creativity Prize – awarded for Deborah Nagan’s How Green Is the Garden? installation by Canada Blooms in Toronto
• Garden Tourism Person of the Year (Canadian Garden Tourism Awards) – awarded to Alexander Reford for his work promoting gardens as a tourism attraction by Canada’s Garden Tourism Conference

2010

• Coalition BOIS Québec Prize (Cecobois Excellence Awards) – awarded to the Reford Gardens for their strong commitment to supporting greater use of wood in non-residential construction
• 5 Blooms and a Special Mention for Excellence in Horticultural Design and Maintenance – awarded in the “Special Attractions” category (national edition) by Communities in Bloom
• Bas-Saint-Laurent Heritage Prize (La Mitis region) – awarded in the “Preservation, Restoration and Conservation” category for the quality of the gardens and their impact on the local environment