Regular readers will know that I occasionally write about gardens and travel on this blog. Whenever I travel I try to visit at least one garden. Sometimes, as in the post on the Gardens of North Devon, I will visit several on one trip.
It is often the case that the places near to us get forgotten or we don’t realise the hidden gems almost under our feet. I am guilty of always looking for new horizons and neglecting what is on my doorstep. In an effort to remedy this woeful state of affairs I arranged a visit to Exbury Gardens in the New Forest. Just a few miles from home they are noted for their woodland gardens and the reason I wanted to visit was to see the stunning autumn colours.
As a photographer I really wanted a day of blue skies to make the colours zing. I was not disappointed; the day I had set aside was perfect.
After parking the car I was distracted by a cream tea at Eddy’s Tearoom. Those who follow me on my travels will know my weakness for scone and clotted cream (see here for a review of four cream teas in Devon). It was good but not the best I have had. However it was not what I had come for.
Almost as soon as I entered the gates my retina was assaulted by the deep cherry red of leaves set off by the greenery of trees yet to change colour.
The estate, belonging to the Rothschilds, consists of parkland and woodland gardens dotted here and there with landscaped ponds. I chose to wander the woodland gardens as I knew this was where I would find the trees in all their glory. I was not disappointed.
Stars among the trees are the Japanese maple or acer. Maples and sycamores, also from the same family, put in an appearance two. Every where the striking colours of red, orange, gold and yellow demanded the attention of the human eye and the Nikon’s digital eye.
© Gordon Lethbridge
I have posted a selection of the photographs I took. Words simply do not do the spectacle justice. They say a picture is worth a thousand words but even a photograph is no match for the real thing.
I hope you have enjoyed these photographs. I am posting more of them on Instagram and Pinterest where you can follow me to see these and more.
It is not just the stunning autumn displays that Exbury Gardens are famous for. Their azalea and rhododendrons are second to none and the bulb meadow is spectacular too. It is my intention to visit two or three times in 2016 and to review my visits on this blog.
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