Bordman Aileen - Everyday Monet: a Giverny-inspired gardening and lifestyle guide to living your best impressionist life

My mother in the garden at Giverny (2017).

Steven Rothfeld, stylist and photographer

The Fondation Claude Monet recently honored my mother with a plaque for all her work at Giverny. It hangs at the entrance of her residence, not far from the office of Monsieur Vah, the head gardener at Giverny. He is a dear friend of my mothers, and through her, I have learned a great deal from him about Monet and Giverny over the years.

Since the opening of the garden to the public in 1980 my mothers mission has been to preserve the magnificent beauty of Monets world and share that beauty with all who make the pilgrimage each year.

I am extremely proud of all that my mother has accomplished over the past four decades. As mentioned, shes even received the Chevalier Ordre des Arts et des Lettres award from the French government for her work. She has opened my eyes to the beauty of Giverny and through her and Monsieur Vah and everyone who has passed through Giverny, I have grown inspired to pass along Monets vision of beauty to those who cannot make the trip themselves.

AND ME

I sometimes joke that Monet is on my shoulder, winking.

As I put pen to paper Ive realized that I could write for hours on end, pages on end, about Claude Monethis artistry, his interests, his style, his garden, everything. Since 1980 and even more significantly in the past two decades, I have been immersed in the magical world of Monet. Although his art was created over a century ago, he has left a living legacy that stays with us through the decades.

The first time I stepped into the garden at Giverny, it was early morning, and the clouds were darkening. I felt the droplets come down; there was just enough rain to provide a veil of mist draping above the softening ground. I heard the patter of the rain, like the string section of the most stunning orchestra. I smelled the sweet scent of dew, unique to Normandy, where the rain falls hard and fast.

Instantly, I fell in love. I had entered a world that I knew I had to share in every way possible. Although at the time I was an investment banker on Wall Street, I immediately felt my calling. Paired with the knowledge of my mothers work and the work of so many others, I started to spread Monets art and inspiration through my documentary,