Hillier Highlights.

With all the publicity around the 150th anniversary of the Hillier Nursery I felt that it was time to make the journey to the Hillier Gardens in Romsey, Hampshire. I'd been told great things about this arboretum but still didn't know what the expect. Armed with my camera, several lenses and a packet of Hobnobs I set off to see what I could see.

First a little history; the Sir Harold Hillier Gardens (SHHG) was begun in 1953 when Sir Harold Hillier bought Jermyn's House near Romsey to house what he hoped would be the most comprehensive woody plant collection possible. In 1977 the garden was transferred to a charitable trust run by Hampshire County Council and is now revered the world over. The collection is still being added to, and is now 180 acres in total!

After the mildest winter on record gardens are a little confused, and the SHHG is no exception. Nonetheless spring was in full swing, with flowers, catkins and unfurling leaves everywhere. Here I will share some of my highlights...

 

Lonicera tatarica 'Arnold Red'

Chaenomeles speciosa 'Coccinea' growing as a free-standing shrub.

Deliciously scented Viburnum x juddii

Azara serrata coming into flower

Cornus nuttalii 'Portlemouth'

Corylopsis glabrescens

Phyllostachys nigra 'Boryana'

Magnolia 'Heaven Scent'

Lithocarpus sp KR4030

Staphylea x coulombieri

Rhododendron canadense

Sorbus caloneura PW15

Matteuccia struthiopteris- the 'Shuttlecock Fern'

Rhododendron quinquefolium

A huge Camellia 'Winton'!

Camellia 'Winton'

Carpinus x schuschaensis

Sophora 'Sun King'

Prunus laurocerasus 'Cameliifolia'- UGLY!

Taiwania cryptomerioides

Sorbus insignis KW7746

Magnolia 'Sayonara'

Prunus padus, a British native

Betula albosinensis 'Bowling Green' as seen on the cover of the Hillier Manual!

Helleborus 'Hillier Hybrids'

A general view of the arboretum

Photinia serratifolia 'Marwood Hill'

Quercus glauca ETE161

Magnolia avenue

Near the heather garden

Euphorbia polychroma 'Golden Fusion'

Maytenus boaria

Cercidiphyllum japonicum 'Morioka Weeping'

Pseudopanax ferox showing mature foliage

Sequoia sempervirens 'Cantab'

Rubus spectabilis 'Olympic Double' flowering a little earlier than mine

Lysichiton americana

Rubus henryi spp. sozotylus

Lomatia dentata- needs researching at some point!

Viburnum x burkwoodii 'Anne Russell'

Rhododendron racemosum

Jermyn's House

Rhododendron 'Shilsonii'

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Filiformis'

Buxus wallichiana

Malus 'Katherine'

Ribes x beatonii