Over the main alley that crosses Monet’s garden, the climbing roses display their tender colors in June.
Their pink and red match the pretty colors of the annual poppies scattered everywhere in the flower beds.
(click to enlarge)
The Rose Arches
June 13, 2015
Early Morning
September 14, 2014
Early in the morning, the low sunbeams stroke the flowers at Giverny. Some mist still hangs in the air, like the dreams of the night. There is a feeling of awakening.
The little lanes of Monet’s garden look even more inviting. Early in the morning, minutes after opening time, the Clos Normand is still silent. One can hear the plants breathing, almost.
It is a magical moment that must be picked up quickly. Shortly later, the air will be full of voices, and the place full of people.
Flowing Flowers
August 31, 2012
They ressemble a river of flowers, and with a bit of imagination you almost see them flowing.
What for? To fill the water lily pond of the water garden, of course!
Pretty Pink Poppies
June 7, 2012
Each year, when they pull the dried ones out of the ground, the gardeners scatter the seeds in the flower beds. They grow everywhere, and they turn the garden into a pink fairy for a few days.
The eremurus, also known as fox tails, create an interesting contrast with their vertical shape.
They are topped by the climbing roses, at their best in June.
Nasturtiums and Giant Flowers
September 27, 2011
Pink or red huge dahlias, tall yellow helianthus, enormous purple asters, supersized yellow or brown sunflowers have now reached their final height.
In the main alley, nasturtiums flow like a river on the sloping ground, pretending to fill the pond of the water garden.
Their petals shimmer in the sunshine, just like paint on an impressionist canvas.
Nasturtiums
August 28, 2008
The main alley of Monet’s garden at Giverny is invaded by nasturtiums.
Monet planted them this way, but originally, it was not on purpose.
Monet wanted to soften the straight lines of his alley by an edge of small flowers, and he planted what he thought were dwarf nasturtiums. Which appeared to be… rambling ones, and they started to creep over the gravel.
Monet liked this effect, then he repeated it intentionally every year.
It is a talent to know how to use one’s own mistakes.
Main Alley
May 23, 2008
Monet’s flower garden is divided by a broad alley.
He designed the whole garden except this walk which existed when he settled into the house.
When they came to Giverny this alley was lined by spruce trees. It was dark and full of shade, what pleased Alice: she could walk out in the garden without a parasol. But Monet disliked the spruce trees because flowers would not grow in their shade.
The couple had many arguements about these trees, and it is obvious who won.
Did Alice give up, as a smart lady? Monet kept the two yew trees at the top of the way, and he cut the other ones at a four meter height. The trunks looked like columns. Monet grew climbing roses on them and between each pair of columns he had arches also with climbing roses.
The result was lovely in spring. Now, only the arches and the yew trees remain.