Sir Harold Hillier Gardens

Not many miles from Exbury is another large and famous garden, the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens, near Romsey. Hillier, a horticulturalist and nurseryman, gave the gardens to Hampshire County many years ago. Googling "Hillier garden" is an interesting exercise: what comes up mostly are the Hillier Garden Centres, seemingly hundreds of them across the island. If Britain is a nation of gardeners, Hillier and his business are probably one of the main reasons. He was accorded many honors and was even knighted for his contributions to horticulture. The Hillier Gardens seemed to us somewhat smaller and certainly newer than Exbury, but also more devoted to displaying the great variety of plants that are tenable in the UK. As one might expect of a nurseryman, Hillier Gardens was certainly the best-labeled of any garden we can remember, including even some of the great botanical gardens.

Part of a high school class's gift...a wisteria arch
when it's done

Great signage, not only identifying the plants but also offering
tips on growing them...as one might expect

Early in our visit we headed over to the rhododendron/camellia/
magnolia forest across the road

Magnolia bloom

X-wing fighter

But mostly rhododendrons

Not all the camellias gone

Unfound Easter egg under a Buckeye tree; I was hoping for a
sugar hit, but the bugs had gotten into it already

Sir Harold

Giant rhubarb

Swamp cypress liking the bog garden

Very large eucalyptus; among the many tree
specimens