What to see in the garden on your visit

The Sundial Garden and Tennis Court Tea Garden always has something of interest in flower. Look out for a wide range of Salvia’s which provide a welcome splash of colour along with Dahlia’s, Cosmos atrosanguineus with dark purple flowers which give a chocolate scent. Look out for the striking orange flowers of the Mexican Sunflower, Tithonia rotundifolia ‘Torch’,  Dicksonia antarctica (Tree Fern)  and a host of other interesting tender perennials.

The Herbaceous Border by the Five Arrows Gallery is coming into its own with plenty of colour and variety and include some very interesting flowering plants including Asters, Anemones and large  clumps of Pampas Grass (Cortaderia selloana) in full flower. The Chinese Paper Bark Maple (Acer griseum) is always at its best with its peeling bark. Look out for the Monkey Puzzle Tree (Araucaria araucana) close to the Five Arrows Gallery.

In Home Wood -  no not miss the 280 year old Cedar Trees in the Glade from where it is a short distance to the ancient  Wiggly Tree (Platanus orientalis). A walk to the bottom of the Winter Garden will reveal spectacular views of the Beaulieu River and a short walk along the river, where many of the wading birds can be spotted. There are several interesting white flowering trees of Eucryphia’s dotted all around the garden.

The Hydrangea Walk is still providing plenty of colour from a wide variety of different named hydrangeas. At the end of the Hydrangea walk is the  Board Walk which has some strange and interesting plants including Wollemi Pines, Swamp Cypress and Tree Ferns, all of which were around when the dinosaurs roamed the earth.

The Summer Lane Garden has a rich pallet of colour from the Nicotiana mutabilis and autumn colour from Rhus typhina ‘Dissecta’.

Several trees and shrubs have already started to show autumn colour, including several Sorbus (Mountain Ash), Photinia’s and Ilex (Common Holly). Soon it will be the Maples and Sweet gums to show there autumnal foliage.

If you have the energy and time on your hands perhaps you could help in the gardens by becoming a volunteer please visit http://www.exbury.co.uk/website/volunteers.aspx for more info.

John Anderson   - Head Gardener