Magnificent displays at Exbury Gardens this September
The bonus of a wet summer is a splendid September
by Head Gardener Thomas Clarke
September is by far my favourite month at Exbury!
With noticeably shorter days and generally softer light, the elegant woodland garden at Exbury looks magnificent.
We have been blessed with a much wetter than normal summer so the amount of growth is fantastic, this wet weather also means that bud formation on all our spring favourites like the Rhododendrons is in overdrive - promising a great spring show for 2024!
All our ornamental gardens like the Sundial Garden are also having a bonanza year, as all the exotic sub tropical perennials are feeling right at home and throwing out loads of flowers and luxuriant foliage. The combination of sunshine and showers had led to one of the best displays in years and is well worth a visit, it's a magnificent effect worthy of any Edwardian flower garden.
We are also busy as usual cutting down our wild flower areas and collecting the herbage in order to improve the meadow once the wild flowers have set seed.
Another big job for us is hedge trimming all our ornamental yew hedges which get cut once a year which can take several weeks but look beautiful and clean once completed.
Tips for your own garden in September
If you are a keen gardener at home, September is also a great time for taking cuttings, collecting seeds, lifting and dividing herbaceous plants and bulb planting - making September one of the most enjoyable and busy months of the garden year.
Summer fun continues for all the family at Exbury Gardens
Exbury Gardens with its trees, lakes, space, freedom and steam train is a magical place for quality family time and a fun place too: summer-long you will find family friendly things to do.
Seasonal daily activities for children include
Until 29 October: pick up trail sheet at Visitor Entrance
Plus on specific dates lots more including Make a Bug Hotel, Donkey Day, Make a Mini Garden and Willow Workshop - see https://www.exbury.co.uk/events
Ghosts and Ghouls this Halloween!
Ghost Train
Many years ago, plant hunters travelled the world looking for new specimens to bring back to Exbury Gardens. But one voyage returned with more than just plants…
A supernatural cargo of ghosts and ghouls arrived in their place, making their homes in the eerie woodlands surrounding the gardens.
Most of the time there is nothing to fear at Exbury, but at Halloween the haunting begins!
Join us on our quest to stamp out the Exbury ghosts, once and for all!
Tickets for our infamous Ghost Train are now on sale and we also have pumpkin carving, face-painting, spooky garden-making to ensure we have something for everyone this Halloween.
Spooky Garden-Making
Create your very own spooky garden in a cauldron to take home.
We'll supply all the materials needed to plant your little garden and we'll even offer an extra bit of 'know-how' as you choose how to accessorise your creation.
Various times, every day between 23rd and 29th October.
Garden admission or Friends of Exbury membership required
Details of all Halloween events here
