With glowing colours and fresh days, October is a lovely month for getting out and about to visit gardens. Here is a selection, two gardens in Hampshire and one in Devon. We advise checking before making a long journey.
Time Off
LOCAL GARDEN VISITS - HAMPSHIRE Compiled by Nicola Baldwin
Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway
Exbury Ghost Train from Saturday 22nd route! Pre-booking highly recommended.
to Sunday 30th
These woodland gardens cover a spectacular 200 acres, famous for the Rothschild Collection of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, rare trees and shrubs. As the leaves change in the autumn there are spectacular displays of colour from the Japanese maples, deciduous azaleas and dogwoods. A special autumn trail leads to the best of the colour and there is a stunning display of Nerine sarniensis and wild autumn art, in the Five Arrows Gallery. In addition to the woodland gardens Exbury includes a rock garden, exotic garden, herbaceous gardens, ponds, cascades, river walk and seasonal trails. You can explore the myriad of pathways or let the Exbury Steam Railway take the strain on a 20 minute tour of the gardens. Ready for Hallowe’en, you can ride the October, with skeletons, scarecrows and other ghoulish characters on
Location: Exbury Gardens and Steam Railway, New Forest, Southampton SO45 1AZ. Web site:
www.exbury.co.uk Telephone: 023 8089 1203. Open: Open daily until Sunday 6th
November, 10am-5pm. Admission: £9, children £2, concessions £8.50, family tickets available. Teas available. Plants for sale. Dogs on short leads welcome.
2 Hillside Cottages, North Boarhunt As well as glorious autumn foliage in October, this one-acre plantsman’s garden also boasts late season herbaceous plants. Here at 2 Hillside Cottages you can see a great variety of salvias growing in a home setting, as owners John and Lynsey Pink hold the National Collection. Their mixed borders set in gently sloping lawns, are dotted with a great range of salvias, in a variety of colours. The garden has many rare and unusual specimens displayed in sweeping borders in a tranquil setting. The garden has evolved since Lynsey and John arrived in 1979, changing from mostly growing fruit and vegetables to lawn and ornamentals.
Location: 2 Hillside Cottages, Trampers Lane, North Boarhunt PO17 6DA. Telephone: 01329 832786. Email:
landjpink@tiscali.co.uk. Open: Visitors welcome by appointment. Please telephone to arrange. Admission: £2.50, children free. Plants for sale. Dogs welcome. Wheelchair access.
Lukesland Gardens, Ivybridge, Devon
Well-known for their wonderful spring colour, Lukesland Gardens, Ivybridge, are also delightful in the autumn. The shelterbelt of beeches, planted by the Victorians to protect this 24-acre garden from Dartmoor winds, turns a glorious gold, while more exotic species such as acers, cornus and gingko reflect their fiery reds and oranges in the pools of the Addicombe Brook. The Howell family, who run Lukesland, serve up seasonal soups and cakes in the tea room, by a roaring log fire. Children can enjoy a fun nature trail around the grounds, exploring the many secret paths and bridges in this very natural woodland valley. Dogs are also welcome on a lead.
Location: Lukesland, Harford, Ivybridge PL21 0JF. Mrs R Howell, and Mrs
and Mrs J Howell. Tel. 01752 691749.
www.lukesland.co.uk Autumn opening: Sundays and Wednesdays, 16th November, 11am – 4pm. Admission: £4.50, children free. Teas. Partial wheelchair access.
Country Gardener October – 13th
Nicola Baldwin,
www.plotgardendesign.co.uk 35
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