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A different kind of butterfly garden

Field Trip: Quebec City Gardens – Roger Van den Hende Botanical Gardens

You are about to be transported to a place of lush beauty, where rainfall is abundant but the growing season is short (only 4 months). Given these circumstances, the Roger Van den Hende Botanical Gardens in Quebec City celebrate every moment with color, fragrance and texture.

At first glance you wouldn’t know it was a garden. The entrance presents a metal and glass building that looks more like a laboratory than a botanical garden. Indeed, inside were rows of plants in nursery pots, sitting on tables with cables and wires connected to sensors and meters. What’s going on in there? Plant trials, we think, but we’ll never know–that part was closed to the public. But behind that…

A different kind of butterfly garden
A different kind of butterfly garden

The garden was established in 1963 by Belgian-born Van den Hende, who wanted to create an experimental garden for students of Universite Laval to observe “conditions of hybridization.” The 15-acre plot includes a water garden, flower beds, vegetable garden, and compost demonstration area.

Water plants and lush grasses surround the trickling stream
Water plants and lush grasses surround the trickling stream
Colorful lotus flowers float on gentle waters
Colorful lotus flowers float on gentle waters
Charming flower gardens stretch across the property
Charming flower gardens stretch across the property

The vegetable garden was arranged in organized rows for easy observation and study. Along with our favorites (kale, basil, etc.) we found some unusual characters.

Corn, grapes, kale and tomatoes were among the regulars found in the garden.
Corn, grapes, kale and tomatoes were among the regulars found in the garden.
Seeing a hot climate crop in cool Quebec was surprising
Seeing a hot climate crop like okra in cool Quebec was surprising
Is this a Grove snail? SoCal snails are boring brown, but this is high fashion!
Is this a Grove snail? SoCal snails are boring brown, but this is high fashion!

A shady area sheltered a composting demonstration display. Four or five different compost bins had placards near by explaining the benefits and science behind composting. The display encouraged homeowners and kids to start composting at home.

composting

A quick walk around to the entrance revealed more splendor with border gardens of salvias, rudbeckia, and more.

The Botanical Garden entrance greets you with color.
The Botanical Garden entrance greets you with color.

Tucked behind all the formal gardens sat a meadow with fruit trees. We nearly hit our heads on a few low-hanging pears before we realized what was overhead.

Pears weighed down each branch
Pears weighed down each branch

Not only was it an educational space, but it was the perfect spot to take pictures for the Gardenerd photo library. We’ll leave you with this grape image, which was taken along a fence neighboring the vegetable garden.

Picture perfect grapes on a vine
Picture perfect grapes on a vine

For more information about the work being done at Universite Laval’s Roger Van den Hende Botanical Garden, visit the website.

This Post Has 3 Comments

  1. al

    I was thinking of unsubscribing, as I live up in N. Ontario, but your story of Quebec City gardens has kept me here. More such stories, eh!

    1. Christy

      Yes! It’s such a different world up there. I will be posting more gardens from my trip, so stay tuned!

  2. suzy

    Wow, how beautiful. Thanks for sharing a little bit of Canada with us.

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