Monet's Garden – A Man's View

As I imagine many of you have been yearning for another blog from me, Erik, and as I have a penchant for blogging about such manly subjects as rugby games and eating Christmas dinner, it is time for another testosterone-filled blog about … visiting Monet's Garden.

During our guests' visit a few weeks ago, we visited Monet's Garden in Giverny. Monet first rented this property outside of Paris in 1890, eventually buying it (and adjoining property) as he became a more profitable artist - something he accomplished without employing the typical artists' strategy: dying.

He painted his famous Water Lilies based on the Japanese Pond therein, and he painted that work – as commissioned by the French government – at the end of his life, while he was unfortunately as crazy as a bag of bees. While in his creative/insane fog, he refused to relinquish the canvasses, constantly adding more layers and colours, until he eventually died. Apparently, that is the universal signal for the completion of a work-of-art (see Eyes Wide Shut for counterexample).

For those of you with my level of culture, a quick note: Monet was a painter.

For one to describe this property as a garden, in my opinion, is a bit of an overstatement. I actually found it quite hard to spot the flowers, so as an aid to the layperson, I was kind enough during the photography to point out the occasional flower as they were not always evident. Oh wait, there's one…

I also want to add that the original of "In the Hollow of a Wave off the Coast of Kanagawa" by Hokusai was one of the many etchings inside Monet's house. It is a masterpiece, and it was hanging in his kitchen.

Hey, there's another one.

And one more...

Now, I wasn't quick enough to point out the flowers in these next few shots, but see if you can spot them...

I know, sort of a "Where's Waldo" for flowers, but hopefully you can pick them out.
Some of the flowers in the garden were fake, though. For example these ones:



How can that be real? I'm supposed to be impressed by the fact that you know where to buy yellow spray paint and you can cut a circle out of cardboard?

Also bamboo. These trees are six to nine metres tall, but the trunks are less than 3 cm in diameter.



I'm sorry, but there must be rebar running up the middle of each of those. Shenanigans!


Whoops, there's some more real flowers. Let me point them out...

There was also a Mom plant, a plant that camouflaged any Mom that walked by to hide them from their ever-demanding children. See if you can spot the hidden Mom...



Hey, there's Erik!



Lookin' good! And not sick of flowers at all! But in the midst of all this beauty, I spotted the most beautiful blossom of all... there she is!




A very patient woman, and hopefully, one with an enduring sense of humour.

We realized, at this point, that I had lost my bus ticket home. So - as any responsible husband would do - to win back bus money, I entered a high-stakes poker game with a group of bears.



In case you were wondering, it was a straight flush, and we got home okay. Those of you who are card players could probably tell from the look on Smokey's face. Bears always look flabbergasted when you bring the big-city action.

Bears, blossoms, and bamboo. It was a nice day.