Secrets of Monet's Garden: Bringing the Beauty of Monet's Style to Your Own Garden

by Derek Fell

Monet designed his garden as a painter’s subject, using plants like brushstrokes. Premier garden writer and photographer Derek Fell helps the home gardener recreate some of Giverny’s beauty through an illuminating examination of the painter’s planting philosophies. With hundreds of full-color photographs, and reproductions, Fell sheds light on Monet’s use of color, structure, favorite flowers; and more.

Genres: Art, Gardening, Nonfiction

144 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful combination of art and gardening. This book is an informative tour of the Giverny gardens owned by Claude Monet, the artist. Monet was known for his beautiful impressionist work, most of which was inspired by these private gardens that he tended and cultivated for his own pleasure. Combining the beauty and information, any reader can appreciate the art of Monet in the many photos, and can also aspire to plant gardens of the same type.

[Mary Catelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

An analysis of what Monet planted and why, and what you can do like it, even if you don't have a dedicated team of ten gardeners, a backhoe to deal with exhausted beds, several greenhouses solely to raises flowers, and all that land. Some aspects, he points out, can be duplicated in little as planters, such as color scheme.

Also comments on the art. For instance, Monet, despite the rumors, did not dislike hybrids; all his waterlilies were hybrids. He didn't like double flowers because they were less translucent.

[JennLynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just skimmed this one as a Monet fan - mainly for the pictures - but a true gardener would certainly enjoy the copious quantities of information on the flower species, colour combinations etc. needed to turn their own garden into an impressionist masterpiece.

[Anne Marshall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book with gorgeous pictures

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love this book, thinking about what I'd like my next garden to be like. Ahhhh someday.

[Tammy Barnardo · Rating 4 out of 5]

"More than anything I must have flowers, always, always..."