Visiting Claude Monet's Garden

French Impressionism painter Claude Monet gathered his inspiration from his garden in Giverny, France.  Thousands of flowers include irises, poppies, peonies, tulips and roses.

A map will help guide you to his treasures of landscape design.  There are two parts to his garden: The Clos Normand, the land containing his home and garden and the famous Water Garden.

A historical photograph of Claude Monet is hanging to get to know him better.  In 1883 Monet bought the piece of land in Giverny to make a home for his family.  He cut down pine trees to allow space to plant flowers.  

Red poppies add vibrant color.

Purple stars with a green center fill the flower beds.

Rasbery tulips say hello spring.

Pathways add visual appeal as you walk the beds of delight.  He planted flowers according to their color and let them grow freely.

Fabric in the gift shop can be purchased for your home.  

Nature inspire designs in pillows.  

Monet loved to share his passion for botany by giving away roses and plants to friends Caillebotte and Clemenceau.  

Monet said, "All of my money goes into my garden."  

He was always on the lookout for rare varieties.  

Green shutters greet you at his door as you enter his home.

Vines grow along pink walls clinging like threads of time.

Take a tour of his pink and green home to discover French Country decorating in the colors he chooses to paint his walls.  Every inch of his space is filled with what he loves.

Monet loved cooking fresh herbs and vegetables from his garden.  Brass pots hang as a reminder a kitchen is active as it serves the needs of your family.

Sheer curtains let in the light to his sunny yellow dining room.

Yellow orchid with a blue and white pot holds nature.

Green and blue vases sit on top of a warm fireplace.

Carefully chosen tile embraces the color scheme.

A yellow china cabinet holds the dishes he used to serve a large family.

Yellow dining room chairs with a blue plaid holds friends and family.

A white table cloth shows softness.

Sheep in the pastures of France remind us of the beauty of the French landscape.
 

A view of his garden with pink flowers shows a fork in the road.

At his estate he began a landscaping project.  

500,000 people visit his garden each year. It's one of the most famous gardens in France.

Monet created a pond that later became The Water Garden.  To get the the water garden go through an underground passage.  Monet use to cross a railway along the road.  

He purchased the land in 1893.  A tributary of the Seine River called the Ru created a small brook.  He dug out a pond even though his neighbours opposed it.  

He built a green Japanese Bridge crosses the pond of water lilies.

In spring purple wisteria with lavender petals drape over the bridge.

Monet painted his masterpieces from his garden for over twenty years.

The water lilies bloom all spring and summer.

Monet was inspired to paint his famous water lily paintings.

Coming to his garden seemed peaceful.  He loved to find the reflections in water in his paintings.

Color changed with the light of day.

Sunshine brings out colors in flowers.  

Monet passed away in 1926.  His son Michael inherited the house and garden.  Blanche his step daughter took care of the property.  After WWII the property was neglected.  In 1977 Gerald Van Der Kemp became curator\.  A distinguished gardener named Georges Truffaut helped reconstruct the garden like the time of Monet.  The pond had to be dug again.  Thanks to generous donors the house got a facelift.  The property has been open to the public since September 1980.