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

With warm weather and a lack of frosts the Gardens are currently looking glorious, with carpets of bluebells providing a canvas for the dramatic colours of the evergreen azaleas and rhododendrons. The birds are singing, the scents are glorious and even the fallen petals (Nature’s confetti) give the Gardens a romantic edge.

By Gilbury Bridge the group of Exbury hybrids of  Rhododendron ‘Naomi’ are looking great and soon the whole area will be ablaze with colour. Take time to admire the two wonderful specimens of Fagus sylvatica ‘Dawyck’

From the Home Wood main path to Top Pond look out for Rhododendron ‘Queen of Hearts’ and the very scented Rh. ‘Loderi King George’ with large pink flowers.

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, Rh. ‘Odee Wright’ and  Rh. ‘ Doormouse’ and hybrids of Rh williamsianum. Don’t miss the views up or down the ravine with Pieris and the foliage of the Japanese maples providing great interest and lots more along the cascades towards the Azalea Bowl. The deciduous azaleas are beginning to come into flower and many of them are scented like Azalea luteum. 

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 will soon be at its best and close by the Dogwood of Cornus florida ‘Rubra’ and Cornus florida ‘Apple Blossom’ are looking good. Continue towards the Arromanches Plaque and river view for cooling breezes.

The Herbaceous Border is waking up after the winter with lots of interesting Tulips, Peonies, Euphorbia’s and the Chinese Paperbark maple (Acer griseum).

In the American Garden and looking at its best are Rhododendron ‘Nancy Evans’ and Rh ‘Lems Cameo’ with Laburnums coming into flower.
Look out for the Davidia invulocrata (Pocket Handkerchief Tree) near the Rock Garden and American Garden with its numerous white tissue like flowers.

The Wisteria sinensis on the Main House is flowering and the large flowering Wisteria ‘Macrobotyrs' in the Sundial Garden is at its best.

Lots of native wildflowers are looking good with Green-winged orchids, Bluebells, Violets, Primroses and Lungwort’s flowering thorough out the gardens.

Don’t miss the excellent Four Seasons Botanical Art Exhibition in the Five Arrows Gallery.

John Anderson, 
Head Gardener.