Visit to Giverny

Espalier apple trees

I went on a tour to Giverny today which meant we rode bikes from the station at Veron to the garden - 6 km return. The ride involved some road riding, a picnic on the banks of the Seine and most of the ride along a flattish park.

Remains of old mill on the Seine at Vernon, near Giverny.

The garden:

• smaller than I imagined


• packed with people


• lovely


• bamboo, ivy and agapanthas have their place - in France


• espalier apple trees around a square lawn - old, on 2 wires only 1 metre high, heavy crop,


• plants moved from Strauss's garden to Blackheath looked great at Giverny


• dense planting


• all plants fairly ordinary but looked fantastic together


• no vegies