April 15, 2025

 Les Jardins de Métis/ Reford Gardens, Quebec presents a centennial celebration exhibition in its main building, Estevan House, June 15 to October 1, 2025, to honor the people who worked for 100 years, saving a rare flower from extinction. The exhibition features seven 58" x 58” portraits of the Himalayan blue poppy by artist T.M. Glass, curated by Alexander Reford and Marjelaine Sylvestre

THE BACK STORY

A century ago, the rare, stunningly beautiful Himalayan blue poppy flower was near extinction.  That is, until it was saved by the British plant hunter Frank Kingdon-Ward—a man on an extraordinary mission: to save the blue poppy from medicinal hunters digging up its roots.  Kingdon-Ward took 26 Himalayan Mountain expeditions to find blue poppy seeds, found a few in a small patch, and when he couldn’t get them to germinate, he returned to look for more. At last, he could display blue poppy flowers at the 1926 Chelsea Flower Show, which caused a sensation.  Kingdon-Ward went on to distribute blue poppy seeds to botanical gardens around the world and taught blue poppy enthusiasts how to grow the delicate flowers.

 THE CURRENT STORY

Now, 100 years later, efforts to save the blue poppy continue in Quebec at Les Jardins de Métis/ Reford Gardens, Quebec, in Scotland at Royal Botanic Garden and in Pennsylvania at Longwood Gardens, where the plants receive the special care, climate and soil they need to survive.  What makes this centennial celebration important is that earthly concerns and distress over industrial environmental issues have sidelined concerns for declining treasures of the botanical world. This exhibition shines a light on how people in different parts of the world are working to save one small, endangered flower that is difficult to grow: the Himalayan blue poppy (Meconopsis betonicifolia).

 CONTACT FOR INFORMATION AND  IMAGE REQUESTS

 Marjelaine Sylvestre, Curator, Director of Museum Department, Les Jardins de Métis/ Reford Gardens, Quebec, PHONE: 418-775-2222 # 226, EMAIL: marjelaine@jardinsdemetis.com

Tyler McDermott, Studio Manager, T.M. Glass, PHONE 647-609-8087, EMAIL: tyler@tmglass.com