Slideshow: The gardens at Quatre Vents

The potage garden

Located on a hill two hours north of Quebec City in the small hamlet of La Malbaie, this garden seems improbable. How can something this lush grow in the harsh northern climate of Charlevoix County, placed squarely in Zone 3, an area with a short growing season? The small miracle here is the moderating influence of the nearby St. Lawrence River, which creates a unique microclimate allowing many plants to bloom at the same time.