Ottawa Horticultural Society

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Book Review: Elsie's Paradise: The Reford Gardens

By: Blaine Marchand Back to the web version Elsie's Paradise: The Reford Gardens, by Alexander Reford, with photographs by Louise Tanguay; Les Éditions de l'homme, 2004, 177 pages.

This book, the work of Alexander Reford, Elsie Reford's great-grandson, lovingly recounts the trials and triumphs in the creation of a paradise on the banks of the Mitis River and near the south shore of the St. Lawrence River. It began simply on the grounds of the family's fishing camp. Now it is an internationally celebrated site of avant-gard gardening.

Elsie Reford began transforming the camp into a garden in 1926 when she was in her 50s. It was a passion that she would pursue for the next 30 years. From the very beginning, the gardens reflected her bold innovative style that drew upon English traditional garden design. They attract thousands of visitors a year, as much for the cutting edge garden installations as for the beauty of the site, which is located just south of the 49th parallel.

In addition to being testament to the garden's development over the decades, the book is lavishly illustrated with previously unpublished photos taken by Elsie's husband, who captured her work and the beauty of her gardens over the early years. It includes lush coloured recent photographs by renowned Quebec photographer, Louise Tanguay.

Alexander Reford, who has managed the gardens since 1995, is an historian by profession, having written numerous articles on Canadian history. This is clearly demonstrated in the elegant prose of the book.

Elsie's Paradise, The Reford Gardens, is a must have for all who love gardening and are proud of our Canadian horticultural history.

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