Whether it’s the wisterias, weeping willows or the famous nympheas that bloom all summer long of summer, Monet’s garden at Giverny satisfies the deep appreciation of beauty in all of us. Pacific Palisades Garden club member Birute Veleisis will take members and guests on an virtual exploration of the garden at 7:30 p.m. on Monday, January at the Woman’s Club, 901 Haverford. The garden is really two gardens: the flower garden, Clos Normand, that fronts Monet’s house and the Japanese-inspired water garden on the other side of the road. When Monet and his family settled in Giverny (about 55 kilometers east of Paris) in 1883, the land was planted with an orchard and enclosed by high stone walls. A central alley bordered with pines separated it into two parts. He removed the pines, saving two yews to please his wife Alice, and set about planting the Clos Normand with an eye towards creating luxurious abundance. He installed fruit trees, roses, and colored banks of annuals, mixing the simplest flowers with rare varieties. In 1893, 10 years after he arrived, Monet bought the piece of land neighboring his property and had the first pond dug, despite his neighbors’ objections (they were afraid that the strange plants would poison their water). Monet fashioned the pond following Japanese principles of asymmetry and surprise. He installed a number of bridges, including the famous Japanese bridge covered with wisteria, planted a bamboo grove and seeded the pond with water lilies (nymphaes). Monet found inspiration in this water garden for more than 20 years. After painting the Japanese series, he devoted himself to the giant decorations of the Orangerie.
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