I’ve had the incredible good fortune to have visited some of the world’s most beautiful gardens in my travels.  I’ve marveled at the iconic English gardens at Sissinghurst, Hidcote and Kew in Great Britain, the springtime glory of the Keukenhof in The Netherlands; the serenity of traditional Japanese gardens in Kyoto and Tokyo, Japan; the richness of tropical wonderlands in Singapore, Thailand and the Canary Islands, and the beauty of many more botanical and display gardens across North America, Europe and Asia.  The style and size of the gardens has varied from grandiose and painstakingly formal like the Gardens of Versailles to casual, abundant and intimate like Monet’s Garden.

Claude Monet’s Garden, located in the quaint village of Giverny, France, is about 70 kilometers west of Paris. These photos were taken on a long weekend trip to Giverny, back in 2010, when we lived and worked in Germany.

Road sign outside the town of Giverny France. @FanningSparks

Street sign shows Rue Claude Monet in Giverny France. @FanningSparks

Typical small stone house in Giverny France. @FanningSparks

Small Cafe in Giverny France. @FanningSparks

Roses Beside Embedded Horse Shoe in Giverny France. @FanningSparks

Monet’s garden is famous, of course, for having inspired some of his greatest masterpieces like this one called “Nympheas”. The theme of water and gardens feature heavily in his works for 40 years.

Nympheas by Claude Monet, France, circa 1897-1898. @FanningSparks
Nympheas by Claude Monet, France, circa 1897-1898 Photo via www.LACMA.org

Here are a few photos from Monet’s famous house and gardens in Giverny.

Claude Monet's House in Giverny France. @FanningSparks

Claude Monet's Garden in Giverny France. @FanningSparks

Waterlily Ponds in Claude Monet's Garden in Giverny France. @FanningSparks

Famous Bridge in Claude Monet's Garden in Giverny France. @FanningSparks

I was reminded of the extraordinary experience of visiting Monet’s Garden when I recently visited Gibbs Gardens for the annual Waterlily Festival.  Gibbs Gardens, located in Ballground, Georgia, USA, and Monet’s Garden in Giverny, France are worlds apart but the waterlily ponds at Gibbs Gardens were inspired by and pay homage to Monet’s gardens.

I arrived at Gibbs Gardens early to catch the morning light and to avoid the crowds.  Ironically, the waterlily ponds were already surrounded by a dozen or so people… all with cameras mounted on tripods!  Obviously I’m not the only person who likes to take photos early in the day.  Here are a few of my favorite shots.

Red Waterlilies on Turquoise Water at Gibbs Gardens in Georgia. @FanningSparks

Group of Purple Waterlilies at Gibbs Gardens in Georgia. @FanningSparks

Yellow Waterlily Catches Sunlight at Gibbs Gardens in Georgia. @FanningSparks

Frog on Lily Pad at Gibbs Gardens in Georgia. @FanningSparks

It’s little wonder waterlilies have such an allure.  The blooms are lovely and provide an unexpected shot of color.  But it’s the interplay of light and water that creates the magic.  This is, of course, something Monet discovered over 100 years ago when he devoted the last 25 years of his life to a series of tranquil and contemplative waterscapes.  He’s said to have attempted to capture every observation, impression, and reflection of the flowers and water.

More Info

Check out this Giverny website to learn more about visiting the French village and Claude Monet’s house and gardens.

You can learn more about Gibbs Gardens, which are located in Ballground Georgia USA, on their beautiful website.

To find gardens to visit anywhere in the world, check out the Garden Finder feature on www.gardenvisit.com.  It’s a great resource.  I especially like how the Garden Finder helps you find additional gardens nearby the one you’ve selected.

If you’re not already familiar with the Google Arts and Culture website, give yourself some time to explore it.  This link will take you directly to the Claude Monet section.  You can click one of his paintings and then select the little person icon to get a “streetview” (just like you do in Google Maps).  Next thing you know, you’ll be walking around a world famous museum admiring Claude Monet’s masterpiece.  You can view from multiple angles and zoom in or out.  It really is amazing!

Today’s Takeaways

1. Consider visiting botanical and display gardens locally or when travelling away from home.
2. Consider viewing garden-inspired artwork in museums and galleries. If you can’t visit in person, try Google Arts and Culture for the next best thing.
3. Look for opportunities to capture the interplay of light and water in your photos.

 Peg - FanningSparks Author


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