Chapter 3 The Seasons of the Gardens

Reford Gardens

From Spring to Summer

Portrait of Elsie Reford drawn inside an orange-toned sculpted medallion.

Ah, spring has arrived! I can finally get back to taking care of my garden. It’s such an important season, plants are getting ready to be strong and beautiful for the summer… and good gardeners like me know just what to do to help them!

Watercolour of the Blue Poppy Garden and the Azalea Walk in early spring. Few flowers have bloomed. The gravel path is bordered by a few small green shrubs and some shoots emerging from the ground. The trees in the background have leaves. Some plants are still protected by winter covers.Several signs of early summer are present in this drawing of the Blue Poppy Glade and the Azalea Walk. Bees and a hummingbird are pollinating the flowers. Garden tools and a wheelbarrow on the path show that garden cleanup is underway. The sun’s warmth gives energy to the plants, and the watering can is a perfect way to bring water to the garden. Together, they all contribute to the growth of the flowers.
The different elements that were optional for the garden’s evolution. Two of them hinder it.

Bees help with pollination and support the growth of flowers.

The watering can is used to carry water that helps the plants grow.

Tools are essential for cleaning the garden.

The hummingbird pollinates the flowers and helps them reproduce.

The sun provides energy to the plants.

The groundhog digs holes in the soil and damages the roots.

The slugs eat the leaves of plants.
  • Wheelbarrow and Gardening Tools : useful
  • Watering Can : useful
  • Hummingbird : useful
  • Slug : harmful
  • Sun : useful
  • Groundhog : harmful
  • Bee : useful

The Arrival of Summer

My gardens are located north of the 48th parallel. The St. Lawrence River borders my property, bringing wind and humidity. Winters here are cold, windy, and snowy. These conditions make gardening a bit more challenging, but not impossible.

View of the Blue Poppy Garden in Winter, 2016
In this winter scene, the Blue Poppy Garden is buried under the snow. In the background, the tree branches are covered with snow. The protective covers over the azaleas are visible.

In early spring, leaves begin to grow on trees and plants. Even if you can’t see them yet, plants are getting ready to emerge from the soil. Young shoots appear. Be careful not to step on them! The path allows for gardening while staying mindful.

Azaleas at the arrival of spring, 2021
In the foreground of this springtime photograph, about twenty azaleas are covered with protective shelters against winter weather. Sticks placed around the plants support a fabric that forms a shield against the weight of snow and the cold.

With the arrival of the sun, the Azalea Walk and the Blue Poppy Glade bloom one after the other. My colourful azaleas are the first to show up, the warmth does them a world of good!

Blue poppy flower bud, 2009
In this close-up, a blue poppy bud is beginning to open. The green of the bud and stem contrasts with the blue petals, which are still snugly wrapped inside the partially opened bud.
The Blue Poppy Glade in Full Bloom, 2009
In this photograph, the blue poppies are at the peak of their growth. More than thirty blooming blue poppies fill the foreground. Their stems are tall, upright, and covered with lance-shaped leaves. In the background, lush green spruces add depth to the scene.

As you’ve seen, animals and insects also wake up with the arrival of spring. They all play a role in the diversity and growth of plants. Some help with blooming, while others can be harmful.

Hello!

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