The Nature's Spectacular Wonder- Exbury Gardens

Towards the end of April month, the Exbury gardens in the Southside of England happens to be a glorious sight with flowering blooms and dash of colourful feast for the eyes. You may feel that it is a scenic painting rather than a real garden. And colours from pinkie pinks to lilac, orange, serene white, bushing crimson and bright saffron all nod their heads in the picturesque green backdrop from olive greens to darn bottle green. It is a heavenly sight for all nature lovers and common people with a little sense of beauty in them.

And all these are the result of strenuous hard work and artwork of the banking family members, Mr. and Mrs. Edmund de Rothschild. The garden is owned by the Rothschild couple in New Forest, and is very much open to the public. It is one of the most beautiful places of London.

The Rothschild head Lionel Nathan de Rothschild was the one who started the dream project of a garden. He was more of a gardener and less of a banker. His love for plants and flowers knew no boundaries. Many of the rhododendron hybrids that we see today are due to his toil and hard work in the backyard. 452 rhododendron hybrids are named after him and duly registered with Horticulture society. The Exbury azalea is one of his greatest breakthroughs. He bought the Exbury property with its acid type soil, scanty to moderate rainfall and temperate climatic conditions in the year 1919. And such a climate was very much suitable for the rhododendrons and here they thrived under the loving care of Mr. Rothschild.

To fulfill his project and dream garden Lionel renovated the estate to suit his style. Woods were cleared to make way for the garden. Pathways were laid and soil was deeply enriched for new seedlings. And surprisingly almost one million new plants were born here in New Forest Exbury Gardens. The English weather is unpredictable, therefore Lionel took no chances and started an irrigation facility and built massive greenhouses with imported teakwood.

When the country was in war with Germany in the year 1939, the garden was not maintained well. Soon after that Mr. Lionel passed away in 1942. But post war, Edmund continued his father's dream and restored the gardens to its fine splendor. New plants were cultivated and new hybrids were raised. And finally in 1950 the Exbury Gardens were opened out for public view.

Irrespective of the season, there is something unique in these gardens. The wonderful way of its planning is evident for all to see. The Bridal walk is filled with white Azlea and Scarlet Iverys. And in late April and start of May, the home path is a multitude of drifting rhododendrons and purple magnolias. It's so lovely to write about them, imagine what a spector it will be when you see it with your own eyes.

At the crossroad, you can face the unique yellow coloured rhododendron known as the crest. The summertime is a time for enjoying the lovely flowers, mainly roses of all colours. Moreover, during winter and the fall season, the leaves create a hue of colourful sight with dull bronze, rusty russet, gold and delicate green leaves. In winter, you can see baby rhododendron, and literally the wintry garden is a carpeted walk of gold and creamy daffodils.