Admired Monet’s famous water lily series at the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in NYC some time ago and fell in love with the soft, subtle light the artist had managed to capture. Later to learn the man had actually painted over 250 variations of those lilies, the outcomes now scattered across the globe. How fortunate to be able to view the actual source of that inspiration?

Yet it’s just a garden, a tad larger than average but just a garden. Similar flora busily blossoming right under our noses in our own country…in our parks, over the neighbor’s fence, on window ledges, by the side of the road, heck even doing their bit in old tyres turned into swan shaped planters so frequent to the central west and many a Nana’s back yard. And all thanks to folk who share the same passion as Monet did. But how often do we take the time to appreciate a gardener’s efforts? I make a note to take the time to do so from now on.

Seasonally dependent, reliant on just the right weather mix (the waterlilies were yet to open due to unseasonably cold weather), bud to bloom to wither so rapid, fleeting. Thank goodness Monet was inspired to capture the beauty of his Giverny garden for us all to enjoy, all year round.

Thanks Claude