What to see in the garden on your visit:

The Herbaceous Border:

The Herbaceous Border always has something of interest  Hemerocallis, Lilies, Penstemon, Rudbeckia, Lobelia, Liatris, Zuaschneria  and many more. Look out for the Chinese Paper-bark Maple (Acer griseum) a small tree with a very interesting bark.

Home Wood:
The Sundial Garden is ablaze with some very interesting perennials including a good collection of Salvia’s, Dahlia’s, Fuchsia’s, Cuphea, Cestrum’s, Tigridia’s  and the large leaves of a Paulownia tomentosa all enclosed by a  large yew hedge and an old pergola smothered by an ancient Wisteria.

Next door to the Sundial Garden is the Tennis Court Tea Gardens. This has a Mediterranean feel with a good balance of plants which tolerate dry conditions. These include Perovskia (Russian Sage),  Myrtus communis ssp tarentina  (Myrtle) the same plant used extensively in the Alhambra in Granada in southern Spain, Santolina, Lavenders, Cistus and many others. If time permits have a cup of tea and enjoy the surroundings. Fortified, why not continue your walk down to View Point via the River Walk, enjoying the light breezes from the Beaulieu River?

Yard Wood:
The Hydrangea & Board Walk:
The Hydrangeas along Hydrangea Walk are beginning to look at their best with a wide variety of colour and flower shape. The Board Walk is in complete contrast and boasts plants from a Jurassic age which include Ginkgo, Wollemi Pine, large leaved Gunnera manicata (Industrial Rhubarb), lots of bamboo and interesting foliage plants.

American Garden:
One of my favourite plants is a small and relatively unknown group called Eucryphias. These small to large shrubs are one of the best flowering plants for summer. Just to the side of the American Garden is a good collection of the smaller leaved hybrids which produce numerous white flowers over the summer months. There are also several good sized flowering Eucryphias in Home Wood by the Glade and middle Pond.

Do you have some spare time and enjoy gardening? Would you like to join our existing volunteers in helping to maintain the gardens in a very friendly atmosphere?
Then please contact: Vicky.Scott@exbury.co.uk  or John.anderson@exbury.co.uk

John Anderson
Head Gardener.