I have long held a vague daydream of visiting Claude Monet’s garden at Giverny.
As I am visiting family in the general area next week I have grabbed the bull by the horns and got myself organised. It takes a little effort – booking accommodation nearby and getting tickets in advance – they are not available on the day. I am hoping it is going to be worth it – not just because it is one of the most iconic gardens in the world but because I will be on the lookout for little ideas I can bring home with me and make work in a variety of gardens.
Take the famous lily pool which Monet painted over and over until he could paint no more.
His pool is a real water garden but the idea of serene dark water as a backdrop for exotic pink beauty can be reproduced on a tiny scale.
So I am looking forward to stealing other ideas. Hopefully I won’t be too early for the nasturtium walk.
I think this is such a simple but brilliant idea. Plant a load of cheap and easy nasturtium seeds in the gravel and let them spread their vibrant colour in rivers of bloom.
Here’s a more modest version.
It will be interesting to see his house too – I like yellow both in the house and garden – but don’t think I like it this much?
Guests would retire from the yellow dining room to the blue salon. Maybe there’s an idea here for garden rooms of different colours to elicit different sensations. I will let you know how it goes. Meanwhile, if you visit an interesting garden this summer I would love to hear from you. I will be away for a couple of weeks but hope to bring back some interesting tales to share with you.
