Sacré potager continues its road trip before coming back to the International Garden Festival at the Reford Gardens for the summer. After a stop at Canada Blooms in Toronto in March, a pared down version of Sacré Potager will be presented at Casa d’Italia for the 2nd edition of D!SEGNO – lifestyle, fashion and design in Little Italy in Montreal. This event, focused on the creativity and the know-how that connects this unique district of Montreal to Italy, will be held from May 2 to May 11. Sacré potager, created by atelier barda_architecture was one of the most popular gardens of the 2013 edition of the Festival. This conceptual garden is a homage to forgotten vegetables and a plea for their return to our tables and grocery shelves.

The garden explores the wild and the sacred. The wild are the plants that we once cultivated 100 or more years ago. The sacred because these plants have assumed a special importance in our battle to preserve plant biodiversity. Sacré potager is composed of wooden altars of varying sizes that evoke crossroad oratories or private chapels. Heritage vegetables grow at the base of each altar, evoking the biodiversity that is shrinking, undermined by the processes of selection, production and marketing of modern society.

Votive candles adorn each display, customized with images of forgotten vegetables. With a witty combination of the sacred and the profane, the garden is a pretext to raise awareness and promote biodiversity. An invitation to the visitor to make an offering for the return of heritage seeds and biodiversity to our gardens and grocery shelves.

About the Designers –

atelier barda_architectes
Atelier barda_architectes is engaged in questions surrounding the contemporary transformation of landscapes and seeks responses that work at a human scale for different places and users. Founded by architects Cécile Combelle, Antonio Di Bacco, Patrick Morand and designer/graphic designer Julien Pinard, atelier barda advocates a playful approach when developing solutions that are above all simple and poetic. Atelier barda has developed different projects and competition entries from installations to urban spaces, for which the group has been awarded several prizes both in Québec and internationally. www.atelierbarda.com.

About the International Garden Festival
The International Garden Festival is the leading venue for the exhibition of contemporary gardens in North America. Since 2000, the Festival has presented 140 gardens by more than 750 designers from Canada and 15 other countries. The 15th edition of the Festival will be held at Les Jardins de Métis / Reford Gardens from June 28 to September 28, 2014. For more information on the Festival and vacation packages, go to www.refordgardens.com.

About the Reford Gardens / Jardins de Métis
Reford Gardens / Jardins de Métis are located on the shores of the St. Lawrence and Mitis rivers at the gateway to the Gaspé Peninsula. A national historic site, the Reford Gardens are ranked as one of the great gardens of North America. Created by Elsie Reford over a period of 30 years, they are a living testimony to her passion for gardening and plants. Today, her great-grand-son, Alexander Reford, leads a team that maintains this unique horticultural and architectural heritage. Canada Economic Development is the lead partner of the Landscapes Laboratory initiative. Hydro-Québec has been the sponsor of the Gardens since 1999. The Caisse Desjardins de Mont-Joli is a sponsor of the 52nd season of the Gardens.

The Gardens are open every day from May 31 to September 28, 2014. Children 13 and under are admitted free of charge.