In the soft light of September, water lilies open in the afternoon. They need all the morning to decide it’s warm enough.
Flowers are tall, filling the beds with masses of vegetation and colors. Dahlias, sages, gauras, nicotianas, balsams are at their best, as well as the giant yellow helianthus. Asters will start soon.
The Easter week-end is over, flowers are blooming, the first water lily pads float on Claude Monet’s pond, the little green bridge reflects on the water. It’s tulip time.
This January there were a few days cold enough in Giverny to freeze the surface of Monet’s water lily pond. The dormant rhizoms of the flowers, still alive at the bottom of the pond, don’t mind.
Freezing temperatures didn’t last. We could soon put gloves and scarves aside. And the boat is floating again on the water, ready for the gardeners to use it. The planting of spring flowers is still in progress in Claude Monet’s gardens. It will be completed soon. The venue reopens to the public on 29th March 2024.
We are having a cool and rainy summer here in Normandy. Despite the temperature that would be more suitable for September, the water lilies look good on Monet’s pond. Their colors range from white to pale yellow and pinks of all hues. There is even a dark red one that looks almost black. Can you see it in the center of the pond ? It is the one with very few pads.
Roses are in full bloom in Monet’s gardens at Giverny. They climb on trees, on trellisses, they grow in bushes, they weep from big umbrellas and look like trees… Many are very fragrant.
Not only Monet’s garden, but the entire village is full of roses.
On the parking lot, huge ramblers hang down from trees in a striking effect.
And pink climbing roses ornate the old walls of the former farm ‘Ferme de la Cote’.
While the sun sets behind the bamboo grove, the wisteria covered footbridge designed by Claude Monet for his water garden in Giverny almost vanishes under the lush vegetation of October.
Claude Monet ornated the main path of his flowers garden at Giverny with very large arbors on which he grew different varieties of roses. The present day gardeners have planted four roses at the feet of each arch : two ramblers for the show in June, and two remontant climbers for a lasting effect in Summer.
They aren’t necessarily the same color, as can be seen on the second arch on the photo.
A wide range of pink poppies (papaver somniferum) in matching colors fill the flower bed below, creating an harmony in green and pink with the house on the back.
Are you missing Monet’s gardens at Giverny? So do I! The gates are still locked and will stay so for several more weeks. France is under lock down at least until mid-May. Not to speak about the borders…
I took advantage of the long hours at home last year to sort out pictures taken in the gardens through the seasons. They’ve been turned into a book:
There is not much to read in this book, the focus is on the pictures. The texts are bilingual in English and French, except for the title 🙂
I’ve found it on amazon.fr. I had to type the title plus the editor, OREP, to get it.
I would be happy to know if Giverny en photos is available where you live. If you can find it on a website, would you please let me know? Merci beaucoup !
While many people enjoy being at the beach in August, at Giverny visitors like staying under the beech. The big copper beech planted by Monet is now a mature tree providing a wonderful shade in summer.
From this spot, we cannot see the water lily pond yet. It will appear in a few steps. The famous Japanese bridge painted so often by Monet is just in front of us.
It is going to be a sunny and warm long week-end of Easter, and just as leaves feel like bursting out of the buds and bathing in the sunshine, we will be many to take advantage of these lovely days to walk out in the open air, enjoying the breeze on our face.
At Giverny, in Claude Monet’s garden, a special treat awaits visitors: many spring flowers are fragrant. Some smell like perfume, especially on sunny days.
Flowers live their own lives. They want to attract pollinating insects. They make lots of efforts, they dress themselves in bright colors, they produce these intoxicating scents to obtain the favor of insects visit. As human beings, we are not involved in this process. We are just observers, fascinated by their beauty.
After all the colors of the flower garden, the water garden of Giverny is a peaceful heaven where to relax and daydream. To make most of your day, come at opening time or in late afternoon. The best hour is the last one.
Claude Monet’s water lily pond is especially gorgeous right now in October.
And flowers as high as walls grow in the flower garden. (click to enlarge)
Giverny is open 7/7 until November 1st. Monet’s house and gardens will close for the winter on November 2.
It was lovely last week to see the snow covered roof of Giverny’s church. It’s unusual here and never lasts long. This may be the reason why snow looks lovely for the inhabitants of Monet’s village, because on the other hand it makes life more complicated. As snow is rare, nothing is organized for it, especially transportation. Kids don’t go to school anymore, trucks are not allowed to drive and shops don’t get fresh goods. Fortunately after a couple of days snow vanishes and life is normal again.
Some snow has fallen on Giverny! Claude Monet’s pond that will be graced with water lilies in summer is not frozen. It reflects the evergreen bamboos and the snow covered shrubs and trees around. The roots of the water lilies are dormant under the surface, waiting for warmer times to come. In the distance you can see the Japanese footbridge and its canopy of wisteria, all white for the moment. (Click for larger picture)
If you live in another corner of the world it may be hard for you to imagine what Giverny looks like in the winter. Monet’s gardens and house, as well as the museum of Impressionisms Giverny, are closed from November to the end of March (March 24, 2017 is the re-opening day).
The reason therefore: there isn’t much to see. Monet’s garden is a painter’s garden full of flowers and colors, and right now, it is too cold for flowers. On a nice sunny day, it may be lovely to walk around the pond looking for interesting reflections. But on an overcast or foggy day the experience lacks of charm.
The flower beds are being replanted for the next spring. A few green leaves indicate where stunning fox gloves or colorful wallflowers will stand in a few months. Even with a lot of gardener’s imagination it is impossible to figure out the magical feeling of their full bloom in springtime.
Monet himself didn’t paint his garden during the winter. He preferred the seaside, snow effects in Norway, or cityscapes in London or Venice.
If you still intend to tour Giverny while the garden is closed, be prepared to stay out of Monet’s Foundation. The village itself is peaceful, just like any village in the countryside. You will see a few places that Monet painted, poplars along the Epte, the banks of the river Seine, the old mill and the church of Vernon. Don’t forget to pay him a visit on his grave next to the church of Giverny. The cemetery is open year round.
Monet’s gardens are closed for the winter since this morning.
In the water garden, the show goes on for nobody except for the black birds and finches, still singing occasionally in the branches.
I wonder if the carps in the pond can see the gorgeous colors of the sweet gums over them.
Reopening of Giverny on March 26th, 2016 with a brand new spring garden in pale pinks and fresh greens.