English gardener gets top role at Giverny
A horticulturalist from Lancashire has been appointed to one of the most prestigious jobs in French Gardening as head gardener at Giverny in Normandy, the garden made famous by Impressionist artist Claude Monet. James Priest, from Maghull, Merseyside, takes over running the garden on the 1st June, 2011 an appointment which sees James as a direct successor to Monet himself, who directed every aspect of the garden until his death in 1926.
James, who qualified at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, follows in the footsteps of current head gardener, Gilbert Vahé, who was largely responsible for restoring the garden in the late 1970s from an overgrown wilderness to its former glory, exactly as it was when the painter lived at Giverny. Mr Vahé retires from the job after 35 years but will retain a consultancy role.
The garden featured in Monet's famous waterlilies series and its famous bridge over the lily pond features in the latest Woody Allen film, 'Midnight in Paris', which opens at the Cannes Film Festival on 11th May.
James, who will lead a team of eight gardeners in the five-acre garden, describing his appointment as a great opportunity commented: "Monet is the factor that brings everyone here. It's an Alice in Wonderland Monet world and you have to capture the imagination of all these different nationalities who visit. Monet would paint in layers and I think he made his garden in the same way."
The house and garden is run by the Foundation Claude Monet Giverny and is visited by almost half a million tourists a year from all over the world. Giverny is by far the most visited private garden in France.
Monet started to create his flower-filled garden when he moved to Giverny in 1883, refining it over a period of 43 years until his death in 1926. Originally, he planted flowers so that he could pick bunches of them to have something to paint indoors on rainy days. Some of his most renowned paintings are his huge canvases of the waterlilies on the lake he made at Giverny with its Japanese-style footbridge draped in wisteria in spring. Sadly, after his death the house and garden fell into disrepair. The once beautiful garden became overgrown and neglected.
Monet's son, Michel, who died in 1966, bequeathed the estate to the Académie des Beaux-Arts in Paris. Then under the direction of Gerald Van der Kemp, the house and garden were transformed over three years from 1977 until the public opening in 1980.
During his studies at Kew, James Priest won two travel scholarships to Mexico and Ecuador. After graduating he moved to France where his knowledge of English gardens and his botanical expertise meant that he was in demand among the owners of the great estates.
He was appointed by Baron Elie de Rothschild to work on his extensive gardens at Royaumont near Chantilly, designed by the landscape gardener Penelope Hobhouse in the English style. James was hired initially for three years but ended up staying for 17 years!
The house and gardens at Giverny are open every day from 1st April to 1st November 9.30am to 6pm. To avoid queuing, tickets can be bought online at http://www.fondation-monet.fr/uk/
We wish James every success in his new role.
Picture Credits: Foundation Claude Monet Giverny.
