More Matters of Pink

This Spring I was fortunate to make a return visit to Claude Monet's superb garden at Giverny in France.

The house was as pretty (and pink!) as ever and the front beds were in full bloom with pink tulips and blue forget me nots - a heavenly combination.

Claude Monet lived in this charming house with his family from 1883 until his death in 1926.
He was happy here and painted so many of his magnificent works in the studio at Giverny. Even with failing eye sight he painted the Waterlilies series which now hang in the Orangerie near The Louvre in Paris. See them if you can!











The Clos Nomand is a sight to behold in summer when roses climb across these arches and in Autumn when colourful nasturtiums cover the pathway just as they did when Monet lived here.

Matters of pink

Mmmm Macaroons

It's morning tea time here at my place and I am just wishing I could pop into a Parisienne patisserie and purchase a few dainty delights.


Somehow the local Baker's Delight just doesn't cut the mustard for my macaroon fix !!


















Yes please, these will do...

Lovely lilacs

Just one of the many joys of Paris in the Springtime is the sight and smell of the lilacs...



At the fantastic Saxe - Breteuil street market...











In the parks...












In the florists...














...and in the stunning garden at Musee Rodin.
Always worth a visit.

A blooming good morning to you !

Still at Giverny enjoying Monet's garden....

















Forget me nots are the most beautiful blue, aren't they ?












Now we are in the garden at Malmaison, the delightful home of Napoleon and Josephine.











Some perfect peonies for you!

Bee happy!

A busy bee at work in the centre of a glorious flower is quite mesmerising I think.
Don't you agree?

As you can see I am purely practising in my visual diary for now...will I continue ?
To be decided!

How I love roses...

Especially when they are the softest shade of pink ...
Of course all roses are superb, but if I had to choose just one variety, it would be the Cecile Brunner. From a little girl this has been my very favourite rose ...they are so evocative for me.
The very perfume of a baby bud can transport me to events in my life, both happy and sad...

I also love Michelle Meilland, First Love and Albertine, especially when I saw this in full bloom at Claude Monet's gorgeous house at Giverny in France.

And so begins a new chapter

A blog - is there another word for this ?
Is this even a good idea?
Let's see, if I do decide this is a new path to take, what will I write and who will read it anyway !
I do know I would like to share ideas and images with like minded folk who love all things beautiful and truly believe the world would be a better place if we focused on art and music, food and flowers, travel and creative retail...and anything else that feeds the soul and inspires the mind.

Some food for thought and time to sleep on it for now!