What to see in the garden on your visit:

The Herbaceous Border:

The Herbaceous Border always has something of interest  with Anemones,  Penstemon, Rudbeckia, , Liatris, Zuaschneria, double flowering Lilies  and many other interesting plants all in flower. 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, Nicotiana, Ricinus, Agapanthus,  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 which has a Mediterranean feel with a good balance of plants which tolerate dry conditions. These include Perovskia (Russian Sage), Myrtus communis ssp tarentina  (Myrtle), used extensively in the Alhambra in Granada in southern Spain. Look out too for Santolina, Lavenders, Lippia and many others. If time permits have a cup of tea and enjoy the surroundings.

Eucryphia x nymanensis ‘Naymansay’ are in full flower on the island by middle Pond.

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 and includes Ginkgo, Wollemi Pine, large leaved Gunnera manicata (Industrial Rhubarb), lots of bamboo and interesting foliage plants.

Witcher’s Wood:

Hydrangea paniculata  is looking very good with large panicles of pure white flowers.

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

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

Check out the current flowering conditions page at http://www.exbury.co.uk/website/current_flowering_conditions.aspx
and see the autumn colours beginning to develop – all images are updated on a weekly basis.

John Anderson
Head Gardener.