Since then,
the old city has been designated as a world heritage site, and it’s a
delightful place. The narrow streets are filled with countless hanging baskets
and window boxes. The public gardens are immaculate, particularly those in
front of the Quebec National Assembly. Colour rich flower beds radiate from the
Fontaine de Tourney, a massive cast iron fountain donated to celebrate the 400th
anniversary of the founding of the city by the Simons family, owners of Quebec
City’s oldest department store.
This was
also apparent in the Joan of Arc garden located on the Plains of Abraham. The
garden, an elongated octagon about a couple of hundred meters long was established
in 1938 to accommodate a huge bronze statue of Joan of Arc mounted for battle,
a gift to the city presented anonymously from an American artist and her
husband.
The garden
was designed by landscape architect Louis Perron and is sunk a few feet below
the surrounding area and flanked on all sides by magnificent American elm trees
— yes, elm trees. Within the garden are over
150 species of plants incorporated into a design that cleverly blends the
precision of the French Classical style with the less restrained British style
of gardening — mixed beds in all combinations of form and colour — which I
think reflects the makeup and essence of this country quite nicely.
This is so
different from our corner of the country where January thaws expose our plants,
frequently freezing and thawing them only to be broiled and baked in summer.
Okay, I’m envious, but despite excellent growing conditions and beautiful
architecture, I’m not planning to move my garden. I am, however, looking
forward to another visit, and I don’t think I’ll be waiting another 40 years.
First published August 2013 Waterloo Region Record and Guelph Mercury
1 comment:
hi ever;y one
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