Claude Monet’s gardens are in the small village of Giverny, just a little outside of Paris. These lush gardens are where Monet gained inspiration for many of his most famous paintings, and they have been restored and kept up for those also seeking inspiration, as well as endless amounts of excited schoolchildren and agitated tourists. Despite the crowds and the cold rain, the garden was magnificent. The rain almost made the gardens even more beautiful. They convey the epitome of french garden style; incorporating seasonal flowers and harmonious colors, and allowing mother nature to grow without interference, restoring the old instead of building new, and focusing on the charm of the moment, which will look different every day as new flowers bloom and old ones mature. It’s whimsical, nostalgic, and fresh at the same time.

We saw varieties of flowers with simply divine texture, include iris, poppies, peonies, lupines and dahlias. Imagine the bouquet that could be created with those!

My absolute favorite part was the purple wisteria arcing over the bridge. It just looked heavenly. Can you image a drooping floral arc like this one for a wedding ceremony?

“….I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers.”

- Claude Monet