What to see in the garden on your visit:

The Herbaceous Border is very colourful at the moment with a wide variety of plants including Echinacea, Lilies, Dahlias, Hemerocallis (Day Lilies), Crocosmia, Penstemons, Monarda and Echinops in full flower.

The Hydrangea Walk in Yard Wood is coming into its own over the next few weeks with several varieties of hydrangeas including Teller hybrids from Austria which are rich dark blues and purples. There are also excellent displays of hydrangeas in the Home Wood and at the bottom of Witchers Wood.

As we approach the summer holidays the Board Walk is proving great fun for children, who discover the strange architectural plants that were around when the dinosaurs roamed the earth – Ginkgo, Wollemi pine and the huge leaves of 'Industrial Rhubarb' Gunnera manicata.

The Eucryphias in Home Wood and the American Garden are beginning to flower, providing that all-important pollen for bees. Nectar for the bees and butterflies is also in good supply from buddleias and knapweed  in Summer Lane which can be seen from the train.

The Sundial and Tennis Court Tea Gardens provide a welcome splash of colour, with the strong aromatic shrubs in the Tennis Court Tea Garden complemented by the brighter colours of fuchsias, salvias, dahlias and other tender specimens in the Sundial Garden.

There are cool shaded walks along the Beaulieu River Walk where lots of wading birds can be seen and heard amongst the mud flats.

Top Pond and the Cascades provide excellent views and mature specimen trees. Look out for the Koi carp in all the ponds.

The prolonged dry weather means that we are irrigating from our reservoir, and some paths have pipes and sprinklers along them. If you choose to walk down these you will get a refreshing shower!

I hope to meet of many of you as possible at our second Tea Festival on Sat 31 July and Sun 1 August when I’ll be leading some walks under the title “From Twig to Teapot” – looking at plants from which tea can be made, including Camellia sinensis which provides our daily 'cuppa'.

Have a great summer and we look forward to welcoming you to Exbury.

John Anderson
Head Gardener