The Gardens of Elsie Reford

A path through the mountain pines (Pinus mugo) to the lookout.

It isn't just a light rain shower that greets us at the Reford Gardens – it's a torrential summer storm. After driving many hours to get to this lonely stretch of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec, suddenly there is a risk that we might not be able to tour Elsie Reford's northern gardens. So, we linger indoors with other tourists. Disappointed, we watch the lingering dark storm clouds. It is good fortune when a tall, middle-aged man in a bright-orange rain jacket walks over to greet us. Alexander Reford, director of the Reford Gardens since 1995 and the great-grandson of Elsie Reford, introduces himself. While we wait for the rain to stop, he tells us about his great-grandmother and her garden legacy.