Visiting Quebec City

– Posted in: Events
7 comments

Kathy Purdy, author of ColdClimateGardening.com, visiting a Quebecois garden

Visiting Les Jardins de Chaudiere-Bassin in Quebec. Photo by Niki Jabbour

For the past several days I’ve been visiting gardens in and around Quebec City in Canada as part of the Garden Writers Association annual symposium. According to this map, the warmest parts of Quebec are USDA Zone 3. I’m not sure I believe that, as many of the plants I’ve seen in gardens here are further along than in my own USDA Zone 4/5-ish garden. Nevertheless, it is clearly a cold climate and I’m gathering a lot of useful ideas and wonderful inspiration to share with you in the weeks to come. For now, I’ll just say the Quebec is proof positive that you can have a beautiful garden despite bitterly cold winter temperatures and piles of snow.

About the Author

Kathy Purdy is a colchicum evangelist, converting unsuspecting gardeners into colchicophiles. She gardens in rural upstate NY, which used to be USDA Hardiness Zone 4 but is now Zone 5. Kathy’s been writing since 4th grade, gardening since high school, and blogging since 2002. Find her on Instagram as kopurdy.

In its own way, frost may be one of the most beautiful things to happen in your garden all year . . . Don’t miss it. Like all true beauty, it is fleeting. It will grace your garden for but a short while this morning. . . . For this moment, embrace frost as the beautiful gift that it is.

~Philip Harnden in A Gardener’s Guide to Frost: Outwit the Weather and Extend the Spring and Fall Seasons

Comments on this entry are closed.

Niki Jabbour September 16, 2013, 11:57 am

It was great to see you Kathy!! And wonderful to connect in this beautiful garden 🙂

Jessica Walliser August 20, 2013, 7:42 pm

Good to see you in Quebec, Kathy!!!

Gail August 20, 2013, 7:30 am

It’s really quite a lovely city and the gardens are superb…It’s good to see you! xogail

Frances August 20, 2013, 5:09 am

I look forward to seeing this beautiful place through your eyes, Kathy.

les August 20, 2013, 5:09 am

I’ve been there twice, and have always been impressed with the level of gardening taking place there. In light of their long winters, I can see why they go all-out in the summer.

Danielle August 19, 2013, 10:13 pm

Can’t wait for more pictures and shares from Quebec City. So sad that I couldn’t be there this year. You look beautiful in the photo.

Charlie@Seattle Trekker August 19, 2013, 9:50 pm

I have been to most cities in both the US and Canada and Quebec City is one of my real favorites. My last visit was in January so I am a believer that it gets really cold. I enjoyed your garden photo.