In France, Brutal Summer Heat Waves Are Taking a Toll on the Flowers That Inspired Claude Monet's Most Beloved Paintings

France experienced a record-breaking summer this year, with an astonishing 52 days of extreme heat. This heatwave brought widespread wildfires, and tragically, over 7,300 excess deaths. The sweltering temperatures didn't spare gardens either. At Claude Monet’s former home and gardens in Giverny, beloved blooms are suffering due to the extreme heat.

The nasturtiums—red, orange, and yellow blossoms that thrive in summer—were particularly hard-hit during periods of intense heat. Rémi Lecoutre, the deputy head gardener at the estate, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of over half the plants, describing it as "incredibly sad" and "the first time it has happened to this extent."

Lecoutre, who has been a gardener at the foundation since 1988, noted that the heat has caused physiological changes in the plants, such as closing their stomata and stopping flowering, resulting in withered flowers. Despite the challenges, the iconic water lilies that inspired Monet’s famous series have so far remained largely unaffected by the heat.

Monet lived in Giverny for over four decades, cultivating a diverse array of plants that served as inspiration for some of his most celebrated paintings. Initially, the garden was a practical space with vegetables, herbs, and cider apple trees. However, Monet was captivated by the land's potential and transformed it into a horticultural paradise, featuring water lilies that became the subject of over 250 of his paintings, including the renowned Nymphéas series.