Tuesday 15 September 2009

Claude Monet's garden at Giverny in September.



How quickly Wednesdays seem to come around nowadays, one appointment I always like to keep is with Suzanne @ Southern Daydreamer and her Outdoor Wednesday gathering. Do go over and visit with Suzanne and enjoy the other outdoor glories she has gathered today.


I recently wrote "A final farewell to my summer garden"mentioning a couple of influences from the French Impressionist Claude Monet’s garden at Giverny
Today I'd like to take you on a September tour of that beautiful garden which I so love to visit.
It never seems to matter what time of year I am there, the grounds are always a delight and another tour of the house is de rigeur.




Bequeathed to France's Académie des Beaux-Arts by the artist's son Michel in 1966, Claude Monet's property at Giverny has since undergone major restoration.


With its pink render on the outside, the house where the leader of the Impressionist school lived from 1883 until 1926 has now regained the colourful interior and intimate charm of those bygone days.


Several of its rooms are now devoted to the artist's precious collection of Japanese prints, hung in accordance with the instructions of the Master of Giverny.


Just a few steps from the house the restored Water lily Studio, is now home to the Monet Foundation shop.




Also restored to their original state, the gardens now offer the visitor that "painting made from Nature itself" that Monet's contemporaries regarded as one of his masterpieces.



The house and studios look out on to the geometrically designed Clos Normand, whose stunning flowerbeds are surrounded by arbours of climbing plants.
From spring through to autumn the Clos is the setting for the changing palette of a painter-gardener who was "simply mad about flowers".




Further down, a man-made, willow-shaded branch of the river Epte feeds the Water Garden with its celebrated Japanese Bridge and its wisteria, azaleas and pond.
Once again this spot has become that meeting of sky and water out of which emerged the pictorial world of the water lilies.


I hope that you have enjoyed your virtual tour with me today and perhaps one day, if you plan a visit to France and visit Normandy, we can go there together, once again.



à bien tôt
Maggie

19 comments:

  1. Oh, Maggie, thank you for this lovely visit. Giverny is one of my favorite spots! I've been there in October. It is spectacular!
    Have a great day! Hugs ~ Sarah

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  2. Oh Maggie. this is beautiful. The gardens and the house wow. Wonderful.
    Have a nice day, Riet

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  3. Maggie, your photos are beautiful! I have only been there once, in spring, and was just so enchanted with the gardens and home. Thank you for taking me back.

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  4. Thanks for sharing this lovely space in September. I've yet to go -- but it is on my list. It is breathtaking -- one can only be inspired to have a garden 1/10 as lovely!

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  5. Oh, Maggie! Absolutely beautiful. I have never been but have seen so many pictures - would love to go. Again you have made another beautiful mosaic!
    Carol

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  6. WOW...those pics look like paintings!!!

    I hope to someday see it in person. That is a goal in my life!!

    Thanks for sharing...I loved it!

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  7. This is a place I would love to visit .Thanks so much for sharing. Your pics are beautiful!;-)
    ~Myrna

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  8. Gorgeous photos...thank you so much for the virtual tour...it is the next best thing to being there!

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  9. I am excited to have discovered your blog! I am heading to France next March and will spend some time in Normandy and Burgundy. I am really looking forward to it. I have added your blog to my google reader, so I can follow your posts....

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  10. Wow Maggie. Beautiful blooms and great place. I enjoyed it.

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  11. Thankyou for the lovely tour.
    It is small wonder how the artist captured and painted such beauty with a garden like this to inspire.
    Susan

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  12. I've always longed to visit Giverny being a lover of Monet's paintings. His family life there was idyllic from what we glean from those magnificent works of art. When I stood in L'Orangerie Musee in Paris, surrounded by the waterlily paintings, I felt I'd died and gone to heaven - so
    breathtaking!

    Lovely tour and great photos Maggie - thanks for sharing these and yes, I'd love to visit there with you some day!

    We've been to HH a few times - have a lovely visit.

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  13. This is a dream. The tranquil colors, the dahlias, the pond. sigh.

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  14. I would love to visit this garden. The views, the plantings have become such a part of popular modern culture - sometimes I feel as though I have already been there. If and when........I'll let you know!

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  15. Maggir, the gardens are beautiful. Thank you for sharing them with us.

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  16. Beautiful photos Maggie. It all looks so very peaceful, someplace where you would set up your paints and forget about everything else! Will look forward to coming back to your blog now that I have found it!

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  17. Maggie, I enjoyed your photos immensely! I'm unfamiliar with Normandy, so I'm going to become a follower to learn more. You may do the same if you'd like. I can maybe show you around Kansas a little, huh? Have a great week!

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  18. Maggie,

    I don't think there is anyone that wouldn't take you up on your offer!! How wonderful to have been to Monet's Gardens more than once. Are there tours of inside his home? It looks huge!!

    Your photos are stunning and your commentary very informative, Maggie. Happy OW!!

    xoxo
    Jane

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  19. What a stunning garden!

    I would LOVE to go there.

    So....... instead thanks for the take along you gave us.

    If you get a chance please stop by and say hi!

    TTFN~~Claudia ♥ ♥

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Thanks for stopping by, your visit just made my day!