Exbury Gardens, Botanical garden in New Forest, England
Exbury Gardens is a botanical garden in the New Forest region of England, covering about 200 acres and housing different plant collections across various garden sections. The property divides into wooded areas with landscaped paths, several formal garden spaces, contemporary designs, and meadows with wildflowers.
Lionel Nathan de Rothschild purchased the estate in 1919 and immediately began creating the gardens, building an extensive irrigation system with water towers and underground pipes. His son Edmund continued the plant breeding programs after the Second World War and expanded the collections considerably.
The name Exbury comes from Old English and refers to a former river crossing, while the grounds today reflect the plant-breeding achievements of the Rothschild family. Visitors see many azalea and rhododendron hybrids developed here that now grow in public parks around the world.
The site opens from March through November and allows visitors to walk through the different garden sections on various paths. Some areas lie further away and require longer walks, while the main routes are level and easy to follow.
A steam railway runs through several garden sections and connects the Summer Lane Garden with the rock gardens and the American garden over a longer route. The railway allows visitors to cover greater distances comfortably while gaining different perspectives on the plantings.
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