Each summer, beginning when they were young, Reine-Marie and Armand Gamache visit Manoir Bellechasse, the beautiful, grand lodge built over a century ago on the shores of Lake Massawippi. Surrounded by mountains and forests – and gardens! – the lodge is a luxury, secluded destination for lovers of nature and good food.
“They knew if they looked in that same ledger they’d find their signatures, once a year, stretching back to a June day more than thirty years ago when young Armand had saved his money and brought Reine-Marie here. For one night. In the tiniest of rooms at the very back of the splendid old Manoir. Without a view of the mountains or the lake or the perennial gardens lush with fresh peonies and firstbloom roses. He’d saved for months, wanting that visit to be special. Wanting Reine-Marie to know how much he loved her, how precious she was to him.” – A Rule Against Murder
Some flowers that might be found in Manoir Bellecasse’s manicured grounds include:
Peonies: While the number of peony species is unclear, this flowering plant is extremely popular in ornamental arrangements. The peony has a rich and long history in Eastern cultures and is the floral symbol of China.
Lilies: Mostly native to the Northern Hemisphere, the lily flowers in a bountiful spectrum of colors. Beware: certain types of lilies can be extremely dangerous for cats!
Honeysuckle: Known to attract Hummingbirds, especially in North America, Honeysuckle can be aromatic and is named for the nectar that they cultivate in their flowers. The plant has come to symbolize nostalgia and love.
Tell us about a memorable garden you’ve visited on your travels.
37 replies on “The Gardens of Three Pines: The Gardens of Manoir Bellechasse”
Tulip Festival — every spring in the Skagit Valley, Washington, USA.
Many of the commercial growers have display gardens open to the public.
And the world is awash in color………..
The Elizabethan Gardens on Roanoke Island in North Carolina are always a treat to visit. They offer formal plantings that would have been at home at the royal residences of Elizabeth I, as well as beautiful natural landscapes of coastal North Carolina that showcase native plantings and live oaks. In December, the Gardens are decorated for the holidays during the WinterLights celebration: glorious!
My husband and I love Butchart Gardens in Victoria, BC, Canada. We’ve been there at high summer and late fall and both times the acres of gardens were lovely.
I’ve been there a few times as well. My sister- in-law, Mary lives in Victoria, BC which is also filled with cherry blossoms and more beautiful gardens.
These are beautiful flowers. Just wish I could grow honeysuckle.
Be careful what you wish for! Honeysuckle is invasive and will take over whatever space you put it in. It does have a wonderful aroma and, as children, we would suck the nectar out of the blooms. But it is greedy and takes over all the space.
My mother loved visiting gardens anywhere and everywhere we traveled. I didn’t appreciate the gardens when I was young, but now I carry on the tradition. Botanical gardens, municipal gardens, water gardens , even early or late in their season. One of my favorites is the Jardin de la Nouvelle France. Charming, intimate, wild, and quiet, when I’m lucky enough to visit Paris I always stop in and just breathe.
I love to visit the Jardins de Metis in any season. In June the peonies were beginning as were the Himalayan blue poppies. Such an amazing garden and legacy of Elsie Reford.
Every May, my grandparents would take us to Ottawa, Ontario Canada to see the tulips. Acres and acres of gorgeous blooms, magnificent in the colors and the varieties. It wasn’t until many years later that I understood the significance of those beauties to the history of the great country just across the mighty St. Lawrence River from our home in Ogdensburg, NY. During WWII, the Dutch royal family sheltered in Ottawa, and when Queen Juliana gave birth there, the Civic Hospital was declared temporarily as an international territory so that baby Princess Margaret would keep her Dutch royal citizenship. It was Canadian troops which led the campaign to liberate the Netherlands from Nazi forces. Tulips have always held a special place in my heart.
I am lucky enough to live near Asheville, NC and the grand Biltmore House. Their gardens are spectacular, including a beautiful Conservatory. As gardens do, it changes with the seasons. Always something new to admire and enjoy.