A SPRING CURE

As we ambled through Monet's gardens at Giverny the other day, I overheard a gardener explain to a visitor that eight full-time gardeners were employed to maintain the gardens, plus volunteers. What a wonderful spot to benevolently pull weeds and dead-head tulips! Above, a gardener is removing fallen wisteria petals and excess algae from the water lily pond with a net, a mesmerizing and even enviable task.

Vocabulary
curer:  to clean out
un étang:  a pond
le bénévolat:  voluntary work; volunteerism
un bénévolat:  an unpaid voluntary worker

©2015 P.B. Lecron

IDYLLIC

Idyllique rime avec bucolique.

Idyllic rhymes with bucolic.

A view of the Japanese foot bridge on the water lily pond of Monet's gardens at Giverny.

Vocabulary

la glycine:  wisteria

©2015 P.B. Lecron

FROGGIE WENT A-COURTIN'

Calling all females...

Mating season has kicked off with a cacophonous and entertaining concert of lusty croaking male frogs at the water lily pond of Claude Monet's gardens in Giverny. Incredible as it may seem, the sounds emanating from the frogs' inflated vocal sacs make a noisier-than-ducks commotion. A couple of participants in yesterday's early morning comical chorus are pictured above and featured in the brief video below.

Vocabulary

coasser, croasser:  to croak  (croasser means to caw or croak with a rough voice)

Video courtesy of Jordan Helton

2015 © P.B. Lecron