Entries from May 2019

Wisterias

May 18, 2019

Giverny, Monet’s bridge

Garlands of wisterias wrap Monet’s footbridge with softness and delicacy. They are of different colors and sizes of panicles, from small to very long, from mauve to white, and when the sun shines, they fill the air with their fragrance.

Vernon Seen From Above

May 11, 2019

The bridge over the Seine seen from the Ferris wheel

This is not a drone picture. It is the bridge in Vernon seen from the Ferris wheel that is staying until the 19th of May.

If like me you can have vertigo in an elevator, it is sure high enough to feel insecure, though it is not the biggest wheel in the world, of course.

But at the same time it is kind of magic to look at things from a different angle. Every day I walk or drive on this bridge over the Seine, it was exhilarating to see the place with birds eyes.

Visitors from the United States taught me the English name for what we call une grande roue, a big wheel. “Fairies wheel ?”, I asked. They spelled it for me.

The Short Season of Peonies

May 1, 2019

Vibrant colors are softened by bright greens in front of Monet’s house at Giverny

Peonies belonged to Monet’s most cherished flowers. Rare species were sent to him from Asia, needless to say that the painter was thrilled and took great care of them.

Their beautiful colors and fragile looking petals have still many admirers. The giant size of the flowers, their light scent and ornamental foliage make them must have in a garden.

At Giverny, they are combined with annuals and spring bulbs. The gardeners experiment new harmonies every year, which is a good tip to avoid monotony in your on garden. If by any chance you are not enthusiastic about the result, it doesn’t matter much because bulbs can be changed next year. And peonies flower for such a short time that the not-so-well-matching effect will not last.