Arriving at the entrance to Exbury Gardens, we were greeted by a very impressive statue, the work of artists of "Just Zimbabwe" who had an exhibition in the grounds.

Exbury House is an imposing neo-Palladian house which was designed for Lionel in the 1920s. It was built around an existing structure and faced with Portland stone. In 1942 it was requisitioned by the Admiralty and commissioned as a stone frigate, HMS Mastodon (later HMS King Alfred and HMS Hawke).

The house is still occupied from time to time by the de Rothscild family, and is therefore not open to the public.

An impressive sweep of deciduous azaleas have been interplanted with acers and backed with pines to provide a colourful spectacle in both Spring and Autumn.

Everywhere you look are impressive displays

Rhododendrons

Lover’s Lane leads towards the Beaulieu River, flanked on both sides with banks of the Solent deciduous azaleas. The blooms are deliciously scented, with large, tight trusses. The colours span a spectrum of colour from the pure white of R. ‘Delectable’ to the butter yellow of R. ‘HRH Princess Margaret of Windsor’, the dark orange of R. Beaulieu Manor’ and the deep red of R. ‘Bull’s Run’.

The Water Garden was the idea of Anne, Edmund’s second wife, and has a series of different views that cover spring, summer and autumn. It has also been planted with blue and gold tradscantia, gunnera manicata, hostas, primulas and iris.

The Top Pond is the largest in a series of three concrete-lined, ornamental ponds created by Lionel de Rothschild and fed by a natural spring. A full display of Exbury deciduous azaleas surrounds the pond with fiery colours; primulas and iris fringe the water’s edge; and giant carp and golden orfe can be seen swimming lazily.

Water garden residents.