Every week the staff here at Exbury will be compiling their must-sees in the gardens, focusing on different areas or seasonal plants. We hope that you will be able to use this as a snappy guide when visiting and that our favourite viewpoints, blooms and garden features might become your favourites too.

Focus 5th April: magnolias, camellias, daffodils, Heather Garden and early-flowering rhododendrons

1. Towering magnolias

There are many lofty magnolias dramatically blooming above the canopy of shrubs throughout the gardens. Our particular favourites this week are both by Gilbury Bridge (on either side). First is this magnificent Magnolia x veitchii located just south of Gilbury Bridge.

Second is this stunning Magnolia x loebneri 'Leonard Messel' that is currently flowering on the northern side of Gilbury Bridge, just inside the eastern path that leads to the exit. This Magnolia is a hybrid of Magnolia kobus and Magnolia stellata 'Rosea', commonly known as the star Magnolia.

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2. Waterfalls of rhododendrons

Rhododendron season is almost upon us and we have some excellent species' flowering at the moment, creating these beautiful walls of colour! In the collection of images below, the yellow rhododendron with tiny flowers is actually called Rhododendron lutescens 'Exbury Gold' and is a hybrid created right here at Exbury Gardens.

All the photographs included here were taken in Home Wood and around Top Pond, so that area is definitely worth walking when you next visit.

3. Atmospheric Heather Garden

One of our lesser-known gardens, the Heather Garden is a small but stunning garden in the centre of Exbury, by the River of Gold. These tiny pink and white flowers on our spring-flowering heather combine to create excellent almost-solid colour that compliments the dark green of fir trees that surround them perfectly. A truly great places for an atmospheric walk in the shade - quite different from anywhere else in the gardens! 

 

4. Varying shapes and patterns of camellia flowers

All three of these beautiful camellias were found by the Stone Bridge and are still showing beautiful displays of flowers. It's always amazing to see such varyation in the shapes and patterns in each camellia flower! We believe them to be Camellia x williamsii 'Mary Phoebe Taylor', Camellia japonica 'Lady Campbell' and Camellia x williamsii 'Elegant Beauty'.

If you are interested to know more about camellias, our Head Gardener Tom has created this excellent YouTube about these floriferous and hardy plants:

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5. Final show for the daffodils

Daffodils are still showing their happy yellow heads all over the gardens, including Daffodil Meadow and the River of Gold. Here are just a few different types of daffodils that are still flowering around the gardens. How many different types can you find?

Would you like to experience the changing seasons at Exbury this year?

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