A Painter's Garden

Doug and I were exploring the French countryside west of Paris last fall, enjoying views of rolling emerald hills and grazing sheep on our way to Normandy. Somewhere between the cheese and bread during our picnic lunch, I heard a little voice inside my head. It was my dear friend Cynthia, who said “If you are ever near Giverny, you must go and visit Claude Monet’s gardens!”

So, after buying a detailed regional map, slightly adjusting our route, and spending two hours longer on the road, we found ourselves in a charming, out of the way little town filled with centuries-old stone cottages, cobblestone roads, and the sound of robins chirping in the distance. A far cry from the bustling pace of Paris, it’s easy to understand why Monet would have been drawn to such an oasis of calm and loveliness. Giverny is truly amazing.

Claude Monet moved to Giverny in 1883, to design and develop the bucolic gardens which would become the subject of his legendary impressionist paintings for the rest of his life. It’s a spectacular location, with a darling two-story pink house covered in brilliant green ivy, a lily pond, wild turkeys and a breathtaking view of gardens, overflowing with colorful flowers, vines and fruits.

One of the first things I noticed about Giverny was the magical light, which fell softly upon the leaves and seemed to make every petal glow. Monet painted from dawn to dusk, reveling in the range of hues emitted as the sun changed positions throughout the day.

I loved strolling quietly through the grounds, stopping every now and then to sketch in my journal or to take note of the stunning color-coordinated garden plantings. To stand at the edge of the pond which served as the subject for Monet's “Les Nympheas” series is an unforgettable experience.

If you get the chance someday, you simply must go visit Giverny!

Comments

[Stephanie T.]

Giverny is a dream of mine as it was my artist mother's (who also spoke,dreamed and kept journals in French). She never saw Giverny, but did see the water lilies tryptych (all in one place), which she said was one of the highlights of her life. She said she went weak in the knees and was drawn to tears at its magnificence.
Thanks for sharing you pictures!

[ruth]

Just beautiful! Thank you for sharing your pictures, Brenda!

[Joy]

The bright leaves against the white stone is absolutely beautiful! What amazing color in all the photos.

[Joy]

The bright leaves against the white stone is absolutely beautiful! What amazing color in all the photos.

[joyce]

That's a dream of mine. Thank you for the wonderful peek at the garden and your sketchbook.

[Karla]

I see it hasn't changed how beautiful it is! I was there back in 1988 as a high school Senior and fell in love with it. Monet has always been my favorite artist, and when I visited Giverny, I suddenly understand his passion with at a deeper level. Thanks for resparking those memories!

[Paula]

I love your photography, and I love those colours. Your sketchbook too, is really intriguing. Hmmm, what are you cooking up? ... can't wait ...

[Sweet Murk]

Thank you so much Brenda for sharing your visit to Giverny with us! I especially appreciate the loving way you described it, in words, in photos and in your journal! Pure Delight! Thanks Again!

[Nerissa]

What beautiful pictures! I love your journaling, also. Thanks for the peek inside.

Nerissa

[AnnetteD]

How very lovely these photos are. Thanks for letting me be an armchair tourist.

[lauryl]

ooooohh, gorgeous!

[Michaele]

What a beautiful place- and I appreciate how you captured the light in the photos! They're vibrant, but not shocking/glaring, and just the right pick-me-up for this chilly morning~