Exbury Gardens

15/06/2013

Exbury Gardens in the New Forest near Beaulieu cover 200 acres, they are the home of the Rothschild collection of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and rare trees and shrubs as well as a little steam railway. The first set of photos are from a visit in early June 2013.

On this visit we started by going to the American Garden as we'd only seen that from the train previously, the area was a mass of colour.

Colour again, set against green trees. In place the scent from the flowers was so strong you could almost taste it!

The Doomsday Yew - actually I think it's only about 400 years old but that's still a fair age!

Jubilee pond surrounded by trees, welcome shade on a rare hot day and lovely to just look at.

I think this - and the one below - are along Hydrangea Walk.

A clearing with a stream running through it - there are several streams and ponds in the gardens.

Bottom Pond surrounded by trees.

A monkey puzzle tree.

Above and the two below - in Azalea Bowl.

A brief walk through woodland and then another riot of colour.

This tree, like others near it, has grown with a right angle usual.

Even a young Giant Redwood if difficult to get in shot when it's amongst other trees.

Top Pond.

More colour along the way:-

This second set of photos are from a visit on a very sunny late March day but we will be back to see the gardens in different seasons.

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Near the entrance were these Magnolias in full bloom.

In the area near the house there are tree fringed lawns - with daffodils to add colour.

There's a bell hanging from one of the trees which came from Burma hence the name "Rangoon Bell" - it was rung to call Sir Lionel Rothschild in for meals!

There were camellias in bloom all around the gardens, a feast of colour in March.

Exbury House - which isn't open to the public - has a view across a wide sweep on lawn.

The lawns are fringed with shrubs and trees including these camellias which added colour.

From the house we headed along Camellia Walk, these are a sample.

I'm always drawn to water in gardens, this is the Japanese Bridge by the Top Pond. There were plenty of reflections in the ponds during our visit.

Lots of reflections in these views.

There are some quiet large fish in Top Pond, this is one of them.

The water flows out of this pond under this stone slab bridge.

The stream between the ponds flowing through the trees.

We're still in the Camellia Woods area of the garden.

During World War II Exbury house was a "stone frigate" where training and planning for the D Day landing craft was coordinated, when the memorial to the crews at Arromanches in Normandy was replaced the original was relocated to the riverside viewpoint at Exbury. The inscription reads:

LST & LANDING CRAFT ASSOCIATION

IN COMMEMORATION OF HM SAILOR's

AND ROYAL MARINES OF THE BRITISH

ROYAL NAVY WHO MANNED THE

LANDING SHIP AND LANDING CRAFT

AND LOST THEIR LIVES DURING

THE LIBERATION OF EUROPE IN 1944.

"LEST WE FORGET"

Three view over the Beaulieu River from Exbury's riverside viewpoint with the Isle of Wight in the distance and several moored yachts in the foreground.

As we headed back "inland" this splendid cock pheasant was on the path.

The bottom pond in the area known as "Azalea Bowl", nice reflections and seat to look at them from.

The stream between the ponds runs through "The Cascades", there's something relaxing about running water in a setting like this.

Bright green foliage and daffodils.

Two views across Daffodil Meadow to the Beaulieu River beyond.

Daffodil Meadow was a sea of blooms during this visit, daffs bring a promise of spring which had certainly arrived that day!

The sundial in Sundial Garden. Next to this is the Tennis Court Tea Garden which we reached at just the right time for a sandwich and a cuppa.

The full name of the site is Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway, here is steam engine Naomi being readied for our trip on the line.

The train ride is a good way to see this area - the only way for a visitor to see the Summer Garden. This view gives an idea of the type of view from the train.