This Is Cheshire

Monet's gardens make an impression

From the Guardian Series, first published Wednesday 19th Aug 1998.

A TOUCH of Monet's palette will bring a stroke of colour to Tatton's gardens.

Head gardener and art lover Sam Youd was inspired by the French impressionist's colours during a visit to Monet's gardens 30 miles outside Paris.

"They are normal colours which are rarely seen in today's gardens - not iridescent, but gentle on the eye," he said.

The gardens - well-known through Monet's paintings of its waterlilies - represent a paintbox.

"I looked out from his bedroom window across to the orchard and squares had been cut out of the grass like an artist's palette," said Sam.

"Monet was quite an eccentric character."

The artist's gardens were a labour of love. Monet died in 1926 after putting the finishing touches to them.

"It was as if he had completed them and finally was happy and could let go," said Sam.

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