What to look out for in the garden on your visit:

By Gilbury Bridge the group of Exbury hybrids of  Rhododendron ‘Naomi’  and the pure white Azalea ‘Palestrina’ are looking great - the whole area is ablaze with colour. Take time to admire the two wonderful specimens of Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck’ planted by Lionel de Rothschild to act as guardians to the bridge.

Along the Main Path to the House stop and notice the Crataegus ‘Crimson Cloud’ and step into the Iris garden below them at the Tulip Tree. From Home Wood and the Glade take the  Main Path to  Top Pond look out for Rhododendron ‘Charlotte de Rothschild’ and the deep red Rh. ‘Edmund de Rothschild’ and Rh. yakushimanum x ‘Purple Splendour’.

It’s always worth a look at the spectacular and amazing Wiggly tree (Platanus orientalis) with its huge trunk and sprawling branches. Planted circa 1730.

Close to Top Pond are a number of interesting Rhododendrons including Rh. ‘Hawk Crest’ with primrose yellow flowers and  Rh. yakushimanum . Don’t miss the views up or down the ravine and the Wisteria floribunda ‘Alba’ on the pergola. The deciduous Azaleas are in full bloom along with Primula beesiana.  Look out for several dogwoods including  Cornus ‘Venus’ which is one of my favourite flowering plants.

The Home Wood Cascades look great with the fresh new leaves of the various Japanese maples. Look out for Acer palmatum ‘Corallinum’ with reddish leaves and Acer circinatum ‘Sunny Sister’ with golden leaves. The Azalea Bowl still has colour and close by the Candelabra Primulas (Primula pulverulenta) are in full flower.

The Herbaceous Border is waking up after the winter with lots of interesting, Alliums, Peonies, Euphorbias and the Chinese Paperbark maple (Acer griseum)

In Yard Wood the Azalea Drive has some very interesting Azaleas in flower and close by the American Garden is looking good with  many Rhododendron’s including Rh. ‘Pink Walloper’ and Laburnums  in flower.

The Wisteria sinensis on the large Yew tree by Exbury North  is flowering and the large flowering Wisteria floribunda ‘Macrobotyrs' in the Sundial Garden is now at its best.

Lots of native Bluebells are putting on a great mass of colour, flowering through out the gardens.

John Anderson, 
Head Gardener.