A chat with Paula McWaters
Paula McWaters is a renowned garden writer and former Gardening Editor for Country Living, who brings her passion for plants and gardens to life in words. She interviews designers and gardeners far and wide. Ahead of our summer trip to Monet's France, Paula sat down with us to talk about her career and what to expect on tour.
What have been some of the highlights of your career as a gardening writer?
Gleaning knowledge from a host of brilliant gardeners and visiting their exquisite gardens has undoubtedly been the highlight. It's something I never get tired of and never take for granted. Writing about gardens gets me behind some very special garden gates and I love sharing the tips and ideas I gather.
Have you faced any challenging moments?
Yes, plenty of long-distance driving in dodgy weather and trying to navigate my way to rural gardens that are well off the beaten track - although I always find they are worth the effort! I also project-managed a Main Avenue garden at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show with designer Rupert Golby. It was nail biting stuff but we won a Gold medal!
What makes Giverny special for you?
The fact that it is on such a domestic scale - albeit a big one. When you step out of his back door you are seeing what Monet himself saw all those years ago. Once you know more about how he lived here you can really feel his presence in the garden.
What can our guests look forward to most?
Admiring Monet's dazzling 'paintbox' flower borders and seeing those fabled water lilies, which should be in bloom for our visit. The gardeners tend to them every single day: it's remarkable to see. The village of Giverny is a delight, too, and the Tour Manager and I have plenty of insider tips to share with our group on what to look out for.
Can you give us a teaser of what you will be talking about on the trip?
Yes, Claude Monet was as much a gardener as he was an artist and I explore that in my talk and give insight into how the garden is cared for now. It sets you up for your visit so you know what to look out for while you're there.
What do you think are the real highlights of the trip?
Being able to tread the paths that Monet trod and see the garden where he spent exactly half his life is very special. And we bookend the trip with visits to two wonderful galleries in Paris: the Musée de l'Orangerie, to see the Nymphéas waterlily murals and the Musée Marmottan Monet, which has over 100 of his paintings.
And finally, this trip is departing in the summer - what flowers can guests look forward to seeing?
There'll be no shortage of colour. We can look out for an A to Z from ageratum to zinnias (my favourite), with cosmos, nicotiana, late roses, rudbeckias and sunflowers in between.
