Claude Monet's Garden and Home, Giverny

Part 3 of my Giverny visit.

Finally! After years of anticipating, looking at photos online, and planning, I have entered the beautiful grounds of Claude Monet's home and gardens. The property is divided into two sections: Le Clos Normand is the part with the house and the beautiful garden and the Japanese inspired water garden on the other side of the road.

Claude Monet lived in Giverny from 1883 until he died in 1926. When Monet and his family settled in Giverny in 1883, this area was an orchard enclosed by high stone walls. Monet cleared out the area (about 2.5 acres), and created a spectacular garden. He did not care for order, or very dark colors, he grouped flowers by color and blended simple flowers with the rarest of species, mixed annuals and perennials. Tall iron arches are the centerpieces creating a beautiful path to the house.

There are fruit trees, ornamental trees, climbing roses, long-stemmed hollyhocks, multicolored annuals, and so much more. It must be wonderful to be able to see the flower combinations change with the season, to watch the colors of the flowers go from vibrant to dull, the leaves turn rusty as the fall approaches, and the garden begin blossoming slowly with tulips in the spring, and end with dahlias at the end of the season. Le Clos Normand throughout the spring, summer and fall season is filled with the most beautiful colors of pansies, daffodils, forget-me-nots, peonies, poppies, roses, sunflowers, and thousands of other plants that I could not name.

Monet had a spectacular creative sensibility, an artist's eye, a great imagination and perseverance to make all this happen. Let's face it; this was a lot of work! At first, Monet and his family did most of the gardening themselves, but as his reputation and income grew, he hired gardeners to help out.

I loved walking among the flowers; the colors and the smell were intoxicating. A visit to this garden is a feast for the eyes, the mind and the soul.

It is very difficult to really convey what the garden is with just a few photos. I tried to pick some of the best pictures that I took, but I know that those will not do it justice. So, now I will let the photos do the talking, I hope you enjoy the virtual stroll through the garden. It was an unforgettable moment for me.

Monet's Garden and Home
open 3/24-11/1
9:30-6:00
To book tickets go to Giverny.org

Joanna

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