RAINDROPS

Yesterday for a glorious hour between 5 and 6 p.m. and with impending rain, we had Monet's jardins de Giverny to ourselves. It just began to sprinkle as we left at closing time.

Not a soul in sight.

Expression

En province, la pluie devient une distraction. --Edmonde et Jules de Goncourt, extract from Idées et Sensations

In the country, rain becomes a distraction.

©2012 P.B. Lecron

TULIPS FOR TWO

Travel tip: visit the Monet gardens at Giverny after 4 p.m. when most have gone; even better in a light rain as we did today. You'll have the gardens all to yourself.

©2012 P.B. Lecron

WALTZING NASTURTIUMS

Compare these photos of the same garden path in the Jardins de Giverny; the first we took in late July, the second in mid-October. Claude Monet liked nasturtiums and planted them along the alley leading to the front door of his house, as they are here--where they've gained momentum for the last dance of the season.

 ©2011 P.B. Lecron