News from the Gardens - April 2009

The Heather Beds on the way to Home Wood are providing excellent displays of colour from both the flowers and foliage of the conifers. Look out for the spectacular flowering Magnolia x veitchii 'Peter Veitch' these huge trees are looking at their best now.

The Rock Garden is looking good with several early Rhododendrons in flower including Rhododendron 'Chink', Rhododendron 'Johnsons Impeditum' and several very good flowering Pieris. At the far end of the Rock Garden is a clump of dwarf Narcissus Cyclimenus in full flower.

The pathways from Top Pond in Home Wood to the House  are showing signs that Spring is getting ready to erupt with swollen flower buds. Look out for Rhododendron 'Janet' with large white flowers. Just by the edge of the Glade towards the House is a good flowering clump of Rhododendron 'Choremina'. Look out for several of the early flowering Magnolias including M. x loebneri 'Leonard Messel' with pink flowers. Look out for the Rhododendron 'Queen Wilhelmina' & Rh. 'Carex'

The Winter Garden is a blaze of colour with many of the Exbury famous Rhododendron 'Fortune' in flower. The New Camelia Walk is very colourful with many different varieties of Camelia  and Magnolia. Continue to the Arromanches Plaque to take in spectacular views over the Beaulieu River.

By the side of the cascades below Top Pond are some excellent wild flowers at their best. Look out for swathes of Primroses (Primula vulgaris), Wood Anemones (Anemone nemerosa) and the Lungwort (Pulmonaria angustifolia). The Japenese Maples are looking very good with beautiful soft new foliage. Close to the Wiggly Tree is the Chocolate Box Fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris).

I hope to meet many of you on my next New Forest Breakfast Walk, Sat/Sun 16th/17th May.

John Anderson