The Jardins de Métis, also called the Reford Gardens, are at 200 route 132 in Grand-Métis, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence about halfway between Rimouski and Matane. That puts them at the western gateway to the Gaspé Peninsula rather than on its tip, and most travellers meet them on the drive in or out. Tourisme Gaspésie says the gardens grow about 3,000 plant species and varieties, including rare ones such as the Himalayan blue poppy, and the gardens' own site lists the historic gardens made by Elsie Reford, Elsie's Vegetable Garden, the Estevan Lodge with a museum, a visitor centre, a café, a shop and a sea lyme grass nursery. The International Garden Festival adds about twenty contemporary gardens by designers from around the world, opening in late June. Visits take two to four hours. The 2026 season ran daily from 30 May to 4 October, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., with the ticket booth closing at 5 p.m., so the gardens are closed now and 2027 dates had not been published when this was checked.
What to do
Wander the historic gardens and the paths between the plant collections, then visit the Estevan Lodge to see the exhibition on Elsie Reford, who created the gardens. If you come in summer, add the contemporary gardens of the festival. Guided tours cost $5 per person in 2026 and ran from July to mid August, and the gardens offer free wheelchairs if you reserve 24 hours ahead. Adult admission in 2026 was $26.09 before taxes, with lower rates for students, teenagers and children, and children aged 5 and under free.
Seasons and planning
The gardens are open only from late May or early June to early October, so this is a summer and early autumn stop. The best months for flowers are early summer, and the blue poppy is the plant that draws specialists. In November there is nothing to visit, and the low season runs from October to the end of May. Buy tickets online if you can, and check the gardens' site for the 2027 opening date before you plan the drive around them.
Fitting it in
Because Grand-Métis is far from Gaspé town and from Percé, it fits best as a stop at the start or end of a peninsula loop, or as a night in Rimouski or Matane. Allow half a day. If you only have time for the far end of the peninsula, skip it and spend the time at Forillon or Percé. If you are driving the whole loop from Quebec City, it is a gentle first day and a natural place for lunch at the café.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided visit through historic gardens, a vegetable garden and, in summer, the contemporary gardens of the festival, with a lodge museum and a café.
Best time
Late June to August for the festival and the flowers; the 2026 season ended on 4 October.
How long
Plan two to four hours.
Tips
Buy tickets online, check the 2027 opening date and reserve the free wheelchair 24 hours ahead if you need one.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Garden lovers and anyone starting or ending a peninsula loop who wants a long stop.
- Families
- Children aged 5 and under are free, and the paths are easy, though the visit is mainly for adults.
- Couples
- A slow garden walk and a lunch at the café make an easy half day.
- Pair with
- A night in Rimouski or Matane and the drive on to Gaspésie National Park.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
Are the Jardins de Métis open now?+
No. The 2026 season ran from 30 May to 4 October, and the gardens are closed from October to the end of May. Dates for 2027 had not been published when this was checked.
Where are they?+
At 200 route 132 in Grand-Métis, on the south shore of the St. Lawrence between Rimouski and Matane. That is the western gateway to the peninsula, not its tip.
What is the International Garden Festival?+
A contemporary garden festival, opening in late June, with about twenty gardens by landscape architects, architects and designers from around the world.
How much does it cost?+
Adult admission in 2026 was $26.09 before taxes, with students at $20, ages 14 to 17 at $12.61, ages 6 to 13 at $5 and children 5 and under free.
What is the blue poppy?+
The Himalayan blue poppy is one of the rare plants the gardens are known for, among about 3,000 species and varieties.
