GIVERNY AND MONET

Giverny, a village in the province of Normandy is about 50 miles northwest of Paris. On day two we traveled by motor coach to my most anticipated destination of the tour, Monet's Garden in Giverny.  We passed fields of bright yellow canola, drove along the Seine, saw a barge, and marveled at the quaintness of the homes and churches in the small villages. 

Canola field and tree infested with mistletoe

Monet's Giverny residence was a former cider farm. Monet transformed the neglected two acre vegetable plot into his famous flower garden. He planted flowers according to color and height, with trellises and arches carrying the color skyward. Monet didn't constrain his plantings but allowed them to grow and ramble freely.

 In 1893, Monet purchased property across the road and created the water garden that is so prominent in nearly 250 of his paintings. The water garden is full of asymmetries and curves, inspired by Japanese gardens. There is the famous Japanese bridge covered with wisteria; other smaller bridges; weeping willows, bamboo and, of course, the beautiful water lilies.

Sights and Sounds of The Garden