Museum of Impressionism

A huge thank you to Emmanuel Besnard, the head gardener at the Museum of Impressionism in Giverny, for giving us a tour of the gardens and sharing his insights.

This garden is divided into sections by hedges — on one side, three “rooms” feature each of the primary colours, while on the other, the rooms are themed around black, white, and aromatic plants. Together, they reflect a painter’s palette.

Each garden room overflows with flowers. In autumn, bulbs are planted for spring, and by the end of May, the gardens are replanted with summer blooms. Every planting is designed to create movement for the eye — whether through the swaying of the plants themselves or through flowing waves of colour.

I loved learning about the creative process behind this garden and diving deeper into how horticulture and art beautifully intertwine here in Giverny.