Walt Whitman said it best: “Very well then, I contradict myself.” When I started Chubby Chatterbox ten months ago I was determined that my blog would be different from those focused on photography, mostly because I’m not fond of my photographs and prefer painting my own pictures. Unlike me, many of you plant and nurture the flowers you photograph, and I have great respect for your accomplishments. Unfortunately, plants left in my care only receive death sentences.
But as I sit here in gloomy Portland, I feel the need to post something different from my usual self-deprecating adventures. In that vein, these are pictures I snapped in Monet’s garden at Giverny last year. At the time I wasn’t happy to be in Giverny, but our trip to Egypt had been cancelled because of political unrest. Perhaps it turned out for the best because I don’t think pictures of Egypt would cheer me up today as much as these flowers.
Monet was quite proud of his garden, the inspiration for many of his later paintings. More than once he claimed this garden as his greatest achievement. I know next to nothing about flowers so it would be great if some of you could identify these. I hope they brighten your day. Enjoy.
Have a great day!
Purdy flowers. What was the difference between Monet and Manet?
ReplyDeleteMonet is one of my favorite artists, hands down. Those flowers in your pics are truly lovely, but I'm not good with their names.
ReplyDeleteWow. Very nice. I don't know jack about flowers but they're beautiful.
ReplyDeleteyour pictures are great! flowers make everything a little prettier.
ReplyDeleteYou really hit a home run with me on this one. I am a huge fan of Monet's work and I am an avid gardener. Love the pics. I am sure the majority of people would be bored to tears if I started listing all the plant names related to your pictures, so let's just let everyone look at how pretty they are.
ReplyDeleteMonet's garden was not open the day we left Paris headed for Normandy, so we were disappointed to miss it. maybe next time. BTW, I love reading your adventures and seeing your paintings and artwork, so don't give up the ghost! A Fan.
ReplyDeleteI don't know squat about flowers. I can usually identify a rose when I see one, that's about it. I think I saw some pink ones. But I do know what I like, and I like Monet's work. It's very relaxing. I guess that's what he was going for, right? ;)
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Giverny has been on my A list of places to visit for a long time and I have yet to go there. Lovely pictures, Stephen -- they make me all the more determined -- 1, 2, 3, get ready to nag!!!
ReplyDeleteYour photos are a welcome respite from the rain I see outside my window! thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteSome people grow 'em; some people paint 'em. Monet must have been pretty special -- he could do both! And, from me too ... thanks for the pretty pics. to brighten up the morning, because it's a gloomy day here in the Northeast as well.
ReplyDeleteI love all things Monet. I've got many hanging in my home. Not the originals mind you, but prints and I love them all.
ReplyDeleteHave a terrific day. :)
Not happy to be in Monet's Garden? It is my dream to one day see it. As it is, I love all his paintings. Please tell me that after you visited Giverny, you became a fan of Monet's. I hope so!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing these photos.
i was also in Giverny in Monet's garden last year in April.
ReplyDeletelovely photos, CC.
Hey me too. I was in Giverny last July...I think we spent hours just sitting in Monet's Japanese garden...so peaceful and beautiful. You've brought back all those lovely memories...thank you so much. Smiles - Astrid
ReplyDeleteI do not like Monet. I realize he's quite famous, but I just don't get into that kind of pastel art.
ReplyDeleteYou have my black thumb's sympathy. House plants commit suicide when they know i will own them, so there is no way i can help you identify flowers. All i do is enjoy them when someone else grows them.
ReplyDeleteMonet is one of my favorites.
I'll bite. From the bottom I see clematis, peony, phlox (the frothy purple ones beneath the flowering tree which I won't guess at), and two types of iris. Gorgeous. I like Monet, but not in big doses like multiple rooms full at a museum.
ReplyDeleteYou've shown why Monet would paint flowers. Excellent flower photos.
ReplyDeleteI love visiting botanical gardens and the like, and I always marvel at the great skill others have with plants. I have a brown thumb, unfortunately.
ReplyDeleteLove your photos!
Each is spectacular! Glad you avoided Egypt and chose a safer place to visit!
ReplyDeleteWell, it's easy. There are purple ones and white ones and yellow ones and purple and white ones and . . .
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures, but I find the big pink flower a bit frightening! The words "gaping maw" came to mind.
ReplyDeleteI love Monet's paintings and these are fabulous!
ReplyDeletelol! Either I inspired you or you inspired me, I can't be sure of which, but I recognized irises and clematis out of the pictures. What do I win? One of those had to be the Powerball, right?
ReplyDeleteNice to see the photos you took in Giverny last year. I was there taking the same photos ten years ago. I have to say your photos are much better than mine. Do you and your family take real vacations each year? Were you born in Portland? The whole post brightens my day.
ReplyDeleteI loved the Orangerie museum in Paris,where the huge lily pad paintings are housed, and wish we could have visited Giverny as well. Maybe there will be another trip. And maybe you will get to go to Egypt at some point too.
ReplyDeleteThese are awesome pictures. Thanks for showing us a different side of you and your craft. And for highlighting Monet. What he did with colors - Wow.
ReplyDeletexoRobyn
I have no class what so ever. I'll ask my wife.
ReplyDeleteI am a huge Monet fan. Great pics!
ReplyDeleteThese pics are so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteactually i find that quite inspiring. I've been looking for a subject to paint for a while and i guess it reminds me that pictures are everywhere
ReplyDeleteVery nice pics CC.
ReplyDeleteYes! Monet and garden flowers. Great combo. I have a purple clematis like that one. I wouldn't want to go anywhere near the Middle East.
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