The temperature was high…mid 90s when we arrived at the New York Botanical Gardens, having driven from West Orange, NJ…against my better judgment. But it was worth it to see the current exhibit, Monet's Garden.
As part of the exhibit, the LuEsther T. Mertz Library displayed two Monet paintings, his palette, bills of sale for his plants, letters and photographs. And in the basement of the library was a display of photographs of the Monet garden in Giverny by professional photographer Elizabeth Murray, entitled Seasons of Giverny.
My most beautiful work of art is my garden.
--Claude Monet
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Here's a video about the artist's garden narrated by his biographer, Paul Hayes Tucker.
Well, I'm not a professional photographer but I did try to record my impressions of the exhibit at NYBG.
My photos are on the other side.
Before we entered the Enid Haupt Conservatory, where the Monet exhibit was, we passed this mini-garden dedicated to Charles Baudelaire:
The inspiration for the Monet botanical installation are these:
The Artist's Garden at Giverny, 1914-7
donated to the Yale Collection by the Mellons |
Irises |
Once settled, I hope to produce masterpieces, because the countryside here pleases me much.
--Claude Monet, to art dealer Paul Durand-Ruel
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Water Lilies, 1919 |
Entering the Conservatory, we found the following in the lobby.
We immediately went to the two outdoor pools dedicated to water lilies.
In those two pools were waterlilies of many different types:
Claude Ikins and Colorado:
Gladstonia and Gloriosa:
Ellisiana in the foreground and Double White in the back:
Laydekeri and Queen of Siam:
Moon dance and pink ribbon:
Some more shades of pink:
Fauna: a dragon fly:
Around the outside were flowerboxes like this one, which contains cape leadwort and fan flower:
Eventually, the heat overwhelmed and we went inside, where we were greeted by a riot of colors.
There was a recreation of a bridge from Monet's Garden:
There were foxglove and orchids:
And we exited through a cloud of bougainvillea:
I'm extremely busy with my garden; it's such a joy to me and…I am in raptures at the wonders of nature.
--Claude Monet, to Gaston Bernheim-Jeune
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A good time, although also a hot time, was had by all.