Monet's gardens at The New York Botanical Garden

Antonio Reis, web producer

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A replica of Monet's home in Giverny.

Brittany Leandra

Foxgloves entertain while we wait out the rain.

Brittany Leandra

Hollyhocks, looking hand-painted.

Brittany Leandra

A bounty of blooms, as they would have looked in Monet's garden in France.

Brittany Leandra

Lupines add verticality.

Brittany Leandra

A replica of Monet's home in Giverny.

Photo: Brittany Leandra

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Well, I've been to France once before, but I can't boast that I made it all the way to the gardens of Claude Monet (1840-19226) in Giverny. Located about 74 kilometers (45 miles) northwest of Paris in the Eure department, Monet lived and worked en plein-air in his idyllic outdoor rooms. To see his home and gardens, I'm told, is to see another side of the artist's work: in both paintings and plantings, contrasting colors mingle side by side and reflections deepen design.

Thanks to The New York Botanical Garden I feel like I've gotten a taste of what Giverny has to offer. Various artists came together to create an inspired vision of Giverny inside The Garden's Haupt Conservatory. Tony-Award winning set designer Scott Pask set a replica façade of Monet's jade-trimmed home at the beginning of a garden walk that ends at a version of the well-known Japanese footbridge. The NYBG staff flanked the pathway with an exceptional collection of hollyhocks (Alcea cvs., Zones 3-9), delphiniums (Delphinium cvs., Zones 3-7), and lupines (Lupinus spp., Zones 4-10) that lift the bed into a floral allée, while peonies (Paeonia cvs., Zones 3-8) and roses (Rosa spp., Zones 2-11) perfume the dreamscape. Whether you've been to Giverny or not, this lovely replica set is a must-see. You can even meet some famous water lilies in the Conservatory pools, the very same found in Monet's Nymphéas series, as well as rarely-displayed original works and the artist's own palette.

 You have until October 21, 2012 to catch this exhibition. Don't miss out!

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Comments (2)

DYHGarden writes: I have been to Monet's gardens and so I applaud the designers at the NYBG to inspire those who can't make the trip.

The Clos Normand (walled garden where the house is located) is packed with vignettes in different color schemes. The pond was spectacular when I was there in early May 2009 as the wisteria and azaleas were in bloom. I have a Monet page that links to many photos (on my blog, Defining Your Home, Garden and Travel.)

Freda Cameron Posted: 6:51 am on June 14th

dahliab writes: antonio - while i'm excited to visit NY and possibly see this exhibit, your pictures are uninspiring and dont speak to Monet's gardens at all. Posted: 8:03 pm on May 28th

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