Clos normand

When Monet moved to Giverny, the long pink render house had a 1-hectare garden comprising an apple orchard and a kitchen garden. A central path lined with cypress and spruce trees led from the gate to the front door and the flower beds were lined with pruned boxwood trees. Having fallen in love with this garden, the artist-gardener quickly got to work and toiled tirelessly to perfect Clos Normand and turn it into his colourful dream garden.

He had the boxwood pulled out and, after many arguments with his wife Alice who wanted to keep them, he had the spruce trees cut down and replaced by metal arches, which still stand today. The central path is lined with fragrant roses and nasturtiums, which continue to enthral visitors. The apple trees were replaced by cherry trees and apricot trees from Japan, and the ground was covered by thousands of flowers: daffodils, tulips, narcissi, irises, Oriental poppies, peonies and more.

Passionate about gardening, the artist applied his pictorial knowledge to create perspective effects, showcase the house and intensify shaded areas. In the lefthand section of the garden, he created rectangular flowerbeds of single colours, like colours on a palette. As inventive in his garden as he was in his art, this ‘flower enthusiast’ created a solar garden which, thanks to the talents of the current gardeners, continues to work its magic every year.