Monet is famous for his prolific paintings of nymphaea, or water-lilies; the picture on the left, for example, "Les Nymphaes", was painted in 1914 and now hangs in the National Museum of Western Art in Tokyo.

In fact, it could be said that Monet had an obsession with nymphaea, and most artists are aware that he devoted all his lower garden at Giverny to them.

However, very few people are aware that this love of nymphaea was started by a nursery  here in the Lot-et-Garonne, just a short drive from "Téoulés Cottage".

Situated close to the confluence of the rivers Baise, Lot, and Garonne, Les Ets Botaniques Latour-Marliac was founded in 1875 by Joseph Latour-Marliac who created the first hardy hybrid nymphaea in multiple colours. These incredible hybrids were exhibited in Paris where they caught the attention of Claude Monet. So excited was Monet about these plants that he made a visit to Latour-Marliac's nursery here in the Lot-et-Garonne and, from that moment on, began to place regular orders for the plants for delivery to Giverny.

139 years later, Les Ets Botaniques Latour-Marliac is still trading and exports its plants worldwide; it also houses the French National Collection of Nymphaea which includes 200 hardy and tropical water-lily varieties. The nursery is set in beautiful grounds with a lake, fountain, secluded walks, a waterfall and numerous exotic flowers and plants in addition to the dozens of  water-lily beds. There is a photograph of  Claude Monet with Joseph Latour-Marliac taken at the nursery during one of Monet's visits.

Les Ets Botaniques Latour-Marliac is at Temple-sur-Lot, not far from Téoules Cottage and is well worth a visit. Here's just a taste of what you can see there......