Saturday, May 02, 2015

Giverny, Bonne Maman, Peonies and May Sketch letter

You might think I was still in Amsterdam?
 
I think these tulips are even better than in Amsterdam to tell the truth.
 
On Tuesday I was trying to encourage PBers Carm and Lindsey to go to Giverny before they left Paris.
 
I got so excited I ended up going myself the next day! Go figure.
 
It's only 45 minutes from Gare Saint Lazare + a short (10 minute 8 euros A/R) shuttle bus to the gardens. More details here.
 
I almost didn't go inside Monet's house. BTW every single person inside was brazenly taking pictures and even filming, so why not join in?
 
So beautiful.
 
Great views out the windows
 
Of the gardens below. It gives you another perspective.
 
I arrived a little before 2 pm (I took the train to Rouen).
 
It certainly wasn't crowded in the afternoon after the tour buses had gone.
You're gasping for air
 
It's so breathtakingly beautiful.
 
The flowers change from month to month. Do check their schedule.
 
I didn't remember flower seeds being sold in their boutique.
 
Now you too can be surrounded by gorgeous blooms like Monet.
 
It's funny how just talking about Giverny got me on a train the next day. And just tasting Jill Colonna's wonderfully soupy strawberry jam got me painting jam for the May Sketch letter.
 
Especially since she gave me a jar to take home (gone in 24 hours...). Jill used a Bonne Maman jar - perfect to express Mothers Day. I added the 'Monetish' peony.

I thought I'd see lots of peonies in the gardens but they don't arrive till later in May.

I wish I could paint like Monet. Who doesn't?

Subscribe or renew to the Paris Sketch letters and you'll get a Gillottish peony watercolor instead (gift with purchase).
HAPPY MAY Everyone!!

45 comments:

  1. Well, I will get there - to heaven - one day!
    Missing you.
    Such splendid photos.

    any more thoughts on England?

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  2. You're not supposed to take pictures inside the house. How did you sneak that in?

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    1. Every single person in there was taking pictures so no need to sneak. They should just say it's OK cos you can't stop people with iphones. One woman was filming with her ipad.!!

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    2. Vintage Suzie2:37 AM

      My husband and I were there in March and our guide that has been there many times in the past with her clients was told by the docents there that they are now allowing pictures to be taken!

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  3. Absolutely stunning, Carol! :-)

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  4. I would have come with you in a ♥beat!That is one place I would love to visit..what sis pettier than myosotis w/ tulips?
    Good thing to remember the time you went!

    I love your aquarelle..w/ tulip..Bonne Manan etc:)tea for you..the May sketch letter.

    almost 100 F in the sun today here..talk about Jekyll and Hyde weather.

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    1. Thanks Monique.
      We have had non-stop drizzle and grey skies in Paris for 4 days.
      I'm coming to Canada!

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  5. Foodwalker2:55 AM

    Roasted strawberries - Better than jam!
    Hull and cut strawberries in half. Toss with a little balsamic vinegar and a very tiny bit of sugar. Roast for 20 or min at 350º. Try them on your toast.
    Yum.

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    Replies
    1. Here I eat mine straight out of the box. Dont even wash them.
      They only last a day anyway.
      YUM

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  6. oh you went on one of those gorgeous days we had last week or week before?? smart lady!!! it looks like you had a wonderful visit. Thanks for sharing!

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  7. Carol, how lovely to be able to be in Paris as a starting point, then be able to take a short train ride and visit Giverny. Spring flowers time looks like a gorgeous time to be there. I agree that it seemed odd that the gardens were not crowded after The Buses Departed. Note to self...if ever I get there, remember to wait for those buses to depart.

    Wasn't it amazing to actually be in that blue-tiled kitchen?

    Your jam and tea cup and saucer picture is a beauty. Peonies are irrisistible to paint in watercolor, don't you think?

    xo

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  8. I love how you just jump on the train, Carol. We don't live that far by car from Giverny but am ashamed to say we haven't even seen the gardens in Springtime. Your photos are wonderful. And I'm so glad you liked the jam. As I said, I didn't have the right kind of sugar, so this jam is more liquid than usual but we loved it in our yogurts etc. Glad it worked out for your beautiful paintings with the tulips!

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    Replies
    1. I will come give you a Big nudge.
      You will never regret it.
      As good as your jam.

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  9. You are a great salesperson! Who could resist taking your advice? And the combination of tulips with myosotis is absolutely inspired!

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  10. One of the nicest garden in France....thanks a lot for this visit...so nice ! Christine

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    Replies
    1. Is that true?
      I heard ch. Villandry gardens were wonderful but they are not all flowers..

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  11. Anonymous11:51 AM

    What beautiful photos! I would be absolutely intoxicated by those gardens. May must be my favorite month. Remember the song from "Camelot?"
    "It's May, it's May, the lusty month of May, that glorious month when everyone throws self control away." Thanks for this post!

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  12. Marilyn12:55 PM

    I want to be in Giverny right now.

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  13. I know you have mentioned this in the past, but I cannot find the blog post: what kind of camera do you use?

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  14. If you are ever in NYC at this time of year, I recommend the West Side Community Garden ...all our tulips come from Holland and we plant 12000 in November each year.
    People come from all over to see this magnificent display.
    It is the West Side Community Garden.org .

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  15. Giverny gardens are colored to match Monet's paintings.
    There is simply no comparison to anywhere else.
    C'est comme ça.

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  16. Kathryn1:08 PM

    Paint like Monet? I am left with "oh, to sketch and paint like Carol G.! Hugs

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  17. Knock-out photos, Carol! We are still in the budding stage here, so all of that color & sun is great to see!
    I love the interior shots of Monet's house, too
    The girl taking the selfie made me smile........

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  18. Beautiful! I went many years ago in the Fall and was treated to the sight of hundreds of dahlias in all kinds of colors. Some as big as dinner plates!

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  19. Bonnie L7:02 PM

    While in Paris by myself a few years ago, I went to Giverny with Fat Tire Bike Tours. You meet your group at Gare St. Lazare, take the train to Vernon, bike from there to Giverny along the Seine. It was great fun! The gardens are stunningly beautiful. The day I was there photos were strictly forbidden. You take fab photos with your iPad Carol!

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    1. I would Love to do that Bonnie. I saw a group of bikers arriving. Once I walked it. What a disaster...3 hours later I collapsed ;)

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  20. crazy4paris8:42 PM

    How beautiful! Thank you for taking me there.

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    1. You Must come in the Spring some time Crazy!

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  21. Another wonderful and colorful post from Paris, Carol. Love the simplicity of the all watercolor "letter" from Paris, for this month. But what the heck, I love ALL of your posts, and letters art.
    I also violated the rules barring pics when visiting Cezanne's studio at Les Lauves.
    How could I not! It was a very holy place. If I'd been more clever I'd have snatched one of the skulls, in his still-lifes.

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  22. Loved when we went the first and I'd love going again!

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    Replies
    1. Monet's gardens never tire.
      Always rewards.

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  23. Fantastic! Sooooo pretty!!! Thanks for making my breakfast BEAUTIFUL this morning!

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  24. Carol, we are planning to go on the 18th - hope the tulips are still there but would love to see peonies too. Bought some yesterday at Bastille Market.

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  25. All thhis outdoor beauty, love it! Giverney in May 2016 is what I'm envisioning...I had an invitation to go in 2003 but since it was my first visit to Paris, they couldn't drag me out of the city!

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  26. Anonymous11:44 AM

    Hallò PB i have been there few years ago in July it was sunny and amazing,the garden the house the little bridge over the lake ...a dream thank u to take meback again i this marvellus place.

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  27. That's my favorite bloom: the tulips and the cherry blossoms. It's such a good match for you, too. I'm glad that you paint a la Caarol Gillot.

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  28. One of my favorite places in all the world -- those tulips are just fabulous. And lucky you with the interior photos -- they had camera cops there the day I visited. I'd kill for a photo of that fabulous kitchen -- every color in the world I love most!

    Loving the photos, the sketch and you remind me that there is a jar of Bonne Maman in my pantry just waiting to be opened! (BUT, and a BIG but, you can't find the Citron flavor anywhere in the US and the spots I've visited in Canada. I'm about ready to import it from France!)

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  29. Anonymous12:28 PM

    Just beautiful! I will put this on my list for my next trip over there! As a confirmed Francophile I've been following your blog with much envy for some time now, and this one convinced me that I had to subscribe for my Mom. I'm jealous of her now :-) thanks for sharing your art.

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  30. Oh, so beautiful! I could spend hours there, strolling and taking photographs.

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  31. Oh my, Carol! I had dreamed of going to Giverny, and two summers ago, on our first visit to Paris and some wine regions, we also included a day at Giverny! Your photos just brought it all back to my and I am actually sitting here in tears right now - I so love that place! It's beautiful to see it with the tulips, as when we visited it was late June, so the tulips were no longer in bloom. We did bring home seeds - the shop told us we were allowed to bring them to the US as they were in a sealed tin. Well...not so sealed as it came open in our bag! But we scooped them all up back into the tin, and brought them home. We used the last of them in our garden last summer, and many of them come back in the garden to surprise us. We just wish we knew what the flowers were! My husband is an excellent gardener and knows all plants, flowers, trees names - both common and scientific, but we cannot locate some of our favorite blue flowers from that can!! We are planning a trip back and hoping they still have the seeds! Thanks for this beautiful and emotional post! :D

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  32. Have you seen the tulips in the fields around Lisse? They certainly are impressive. I do love Giverny though!

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