Preface – by Susan on Ice FloeOur visit to Monet’s gardens was prompted by my sister Margaret (a newly graduated Master Gardener).  Margaret and her husband Burt joined us for a visit that began with a sail enjoying the Mediterranean towns and cities along the French Riviera and ended with a whirlwind tour of the most well known sites in Paris.  Margaret asked that, if possible, we include a visit to Monet’s gardens, at Giverny and we are so glad we did.

Margaret is guest author of today’s post.

Monet’s Gardens by Margaret on Ice Floe

“Claude Monet’s gardens at Giverny are like his paintings – brightly colored patches that are messy but balanced. Flowers were his brushstrokes, a bit untamed and slapdash, but part of a carefully composed design” (Rick Steves, Gene Openshaw, and Steve Smith).

View from the far end of Monet’s flower garden to his home

I first learned of Monet’s Gardens when I attended a presentation at our local library as part of the Master Gardener “Cabin Fever” lecture series. The presenter was a local watercolor artist, Celia Knapp. Celia has made numerous visits to the gardens and is very well versed in the history of Claude Monet and the development of the gardens.

Claude Monet is considered the “leading light” of the Impressionist movement.  He pursued his art in defiance of his family, who were of very modest means, and practiced his art in the “open air”, in contrast to the accepted approach of painting in the “perfect lighting of a controlled studio setting”.

We arrived at Giverny from Paris by way of a high-speed train ride and, then, a “train-like” trolley that included an overhead recorded history of the village of Giverny, whose claim to fame is primarily its connection to Claude Monet. Giverny sits on the right bank of the river Seine.

Entering Giverny by “train”

Left to right, George, Burt, Margaret, Susan On the little train

From there, we approached the gardens on foot.

Giverny (Zhee-vair-nee or, as George likes to pronounce it, Gib-er-nee) is in the Normandy region of France, about 50 miles north of Paris. Monet discovered Giverny while traveling on a train, and eventually purchased a farmhouse on an orchard, turning a barn on the propery into his studio. He settled into the farmhouse with his wife, Alice, and their eight children. The surrounding land would eventually evolve into one of the most inspirational settings of his art.

Claude Monet’s home  (photo downloaded from wikimedia.org.  Author Michal Osmenda from Brussels, Belgium)

My first impression is that it was a little confusing determining exactly when we reached the gardens. In retrospect, I think it may be because the town, itself, has identified itself so closely with the gardens that it’s difficult to determine where they actually begin, apart from the town. At a certain point, we reached the ticket window. From there, we entered the gift shop. WOW!! The town, and the entity that oversees the gardens, have definitely perfected the commercialization of the site. The gift shop was buzzing with visitors and consumers of books, prints, artwork and memorabilia. In order to enter or exit the gardens you were required to go through the gift shop – genius!

Bridges and walkways allow you to meander through the extensive water gardens

Many chaperoned groups of children visited the gardens the day we were there.