Les Arceaux Fleuris, Giverny

In 1913 Claude Monet painted Flowering Arches, Giverny.  Currently on display at the Phoenix Art Musem.  When you see this painting in person and then have the opportunity to travel to Giverny and view Monet's inspiration, you magnify your appreciation.

You see, Monet planted these arches to hide the nearby rail line near his property in Giverny and created a peaceful place to cut off the distractions of the modern world. Monet dealt with depression, self-doubt, and despair after his wife died in 1911.  And yet, he took action, he created a space for pleasantry, a place for flowers to grow, and he painted.  Perhaps he understood that we create our reality, and if our outlook is not pleasing, we can obstruct that view by planting flowers.  We can plant what we want to grow both in pots and earth and metaphorically as well.

Monet once said, "Gardening was something I learned in my youth when I was unhappy. I perhaps owe having become a painter to flowers." We owe a lot to Monet for sharing his love of flowers - and his paintings.