The water lily ponds

One of  Claude Monet's best known paintings is "Water lilies and the Japanese bridge". He spent the last thirty years of his life creating 250 paintings of water lilies from his garden. These paintings are now on display in many museums and art galleries around the world. Have you seen any of these paintings in these museums or galleries ? 


The above however, is not Claude Monet's garden at Giverny in France, but 'Bennett's water gardens in Weymouth' which holds the national and international collection of water lilies. The Monet bridge was created in 1999 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of one of Monet's lily paintings. 


It is a beautiful place to visit. There are 8 acres of garden and there always lily plants in bloom from May through to September. It was so peaceful and there were lots of wildlife to see - moorhens, dragon flies and butterflies. It's hard to believe that this was once an industrial area. The ponds were pits created by digging the clay, which was used to make local bricks.


 I'm sure Claude Monet would have loved it here - many of the water lilies planted here back in 1959 came from the same nursery in France who supplied Claude Monet.


We have had a wonderful relaxing week off work, catching up with family and friends and enjoying the Dorset and Devon countryside and coast. It's going to be hard going back to work tomorrow!

Welcome to my new followers Maree and Teri, thank you for joining me. Wishing you all a happy week.

Sarah x

Comments

  1. These pictures are beautiful. I love Monet's picture, but the real life version is even better. Isn't it horrible going back to work, especially when the weather is so lovely. Perhaps we could have a new law that says when the temperature hits 75 that we all get the day off (paid of course). Have a good week xxx

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  2. Oh Sarah, this looks just like Monet's garden...not that I have been there, but this looks like a beautiful place with the pond and the waterlilies...so glad you enjoyed your day out!

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  3. I'm glad you've had such a good week, and this garden looks wonderful. I was thrilled to visit Giverny a few times and adore Monet's paintings.

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  4. Just beautiful. Happy to hear that you had some time off and some great places to relax and enjoy the beauty around you.
    Blessings,
    Bobbie Lynn

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  5. Oh wow looks like a stunning place. I love water lillies there such beautiful flowers x

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  6. At first I thought that you had popped over to Giverny - the water lilies are beautiful. I am very envious of them as I was checking my pond today and could not see one lily bud, lots of leaves but no flowers.
    Glad you have had a lovely relaxing week off work and enjoyed yourselves.

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  7. I didn't know about the Weymouth Water Gardens; it looks a lovely place to visit. Water lilies floating on a pond are always beautiful. I'm glad you had a relaxing week.

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  8. That is a glorious sight!
    Glad you had a good week Sarah.

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  9. Gosh, what a wonderful place. I bet those lilies look even better in real life! x

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  10. HELLO SWEET SARAH! Magnificent replica of Giverny, and a pleasant afternoon tour of such a paradise! Thank you for always taking me to places I love the most: gardens and the sea. Hugs to you and sweet Daisy! Anita

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  11. so beautiful! it looks very much like monet's garden.
    gorgeous photos.
    x

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  12. Such a very pretty place, lovely photos.

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  13. They are beautiful Sarah, looks like you've been filling your time perfectly! :) x

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  14. Lovely. It fooled me and I thought it was Giverny too.

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  15. THAT LILLY POND IS BREATH TAKING.. I OOOOHED AND AWEEEED OVER IT . JUST LOVE IT !!!!!!!!!!!

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  16. Hello Sarah, I found your blog via the roundabout way that just happens, and I'm glad I did! I love the garden that you visited, it looks beautiful. I think Claude Monet's garden would be wonderful to visit too, of course, but I imagine it would be extremely busy, a bit like Chelsea flower show! Bye for now, Jane

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  17. It looks a gorgeous place.I imagine its very peaceful and I bet lots of wildlife visit. I haven't seen any of Monets paintings in the flesh so to speak but I have bought various birthday/greeting cards with the design on!

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  18. Looking at the size of the ponds I just can't imagine how much wldlife there must be-it must be frog heaven! Thanks for sharing your visit Sarah.

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  19. Breathtakingly beautiful! Sigh...

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  20. Such beautiful images - I love water lilies x

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  21. So beautiful. I never thought of Monet going to the nursery and planting the lilies himself. I love that thought. It makes me feel as if I know him a bit better.

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  22. What a beautiful replica of Giverny gardens. One could spend a whole day there i am sure. All those different coloured lilies.. a very inviting place.. I am sure Monet would have loved to see it.
    There is so much going on where you are Sarah.. I am glad you had a good holiday time.
    Happy Monday Sarah.
    val. xx

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  23. If you had not mentioned it was in Weymouth, I would have thought it was Giverny indeed :-). What a beautiful garden it is Sarah!

    Happy week,

    Madelief x

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  24. Hello sweet Sarah! Thank you for coming to visit today; this morning as we went walking, we encountered two very spirited westies. They were in the middle of showing a wild turkey in someone's garden WHO'S BOSS in these parts! These two little white sentries were so darling, but they sure know how to show their teeth when necessary! I thought of you and Daisy. Anita

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  25. Beautiful photos - such lovely gardens. Thank you for sharing them. Best wishes, Pj x

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  26. Our water lily is about to flower FOR THE FIRST TIME in the pond we made this summer, so there is HUGE EXCITEMENT here! CT x

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  27. Such beautiful photo's and a lovely garden, I really enjoyed that, so thank you for sharing, I've always wanted to visit the garden in France, so it's wondeful to know that there is such a lovely treasure here in the UK.
    Clare x
    http://summerhousebythesea.blogspot.co.uk/

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  28. When I saw the photo, I just assumed it was Giverny. What a beautiful spot!

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  29. Good morning Sarah! Your visit is always a lovely HUG and you too experienced that "SCARE?" Oh how I deplore that moment, but this time, I tried to be brave and thank goodness, all was well. Let us celebrate with poetry, art, the sea shore....and WESTIES! :))))

    Anita

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  30. It's beautiful and what a transformation from clay pitts to this incredibly beautiful water garden. I wonder if there are any photos showing what it was like before.

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