The Rothschild family is comprised not only of bankers and vintners but also creators of lush gardens.

At the end of April in Exbury Gardens in the south of England, with the rhododendrons and azaleas in full and glorious bloom, it is like walking through a Monet painting with great splashes of color. Every shade of pink you can think of, lilac, white, orange, crimson and saffron all set against a background of greens from bottle to olive.

This real life work of art is the garden to a house owned by a member of a family who could afford to buy a Monet - the banking family of de Rothschild. Mr. and Mrs. Edmund de Rothschild. Set in the New Forest on the banks of the Beaulieu River, they are magnificent and they are open to the public.

The Start of the Gardens

The gardens were the dream of Lionel Nathan de Rothschild who described himself as "a banker by hobby, a gardener by profession". He loved plants and flowers. It is to Lionel that we owe many of today's rhododendron hybrids: 452 of his examples were individually named and registered with the Royal Horticultural Society.

One of his great achievements was the deciduous Exbury azalea, although there has now been an improvement made to it. The newer strain, called the Solent Range, was developed.

In 1919 he bought the Exbury estate with its temperate climate, moderate rainfall and acidic soil. The type of soil in which rhododendrons thrive.

To fulfil his dream Lionel re-modeled the estate. Woodlands were cleared to make room for the garden. Paths were set out and the soil enriched ready for the new plantings. Nearly one million new plants were rooted.

Knowing the vagaries of the English weather Lionel de Rothschild left nothing to chance. A borehold was sunk as the basis of an irrigation system, including a large red brick water tower and twenty-two miles of underground piping. Two acres of greenhouses were built using the finest imported teak.

When the United Kingdom declared war on Germany in 1939 work halted on the improvements and, unfortunately, Lionel died in 1942. (The Royal Navy requisitioned the house and as the HMS Mastodon, Exbury played a vital role in the planning of the D-Day landings).

Mrs. Lionel and a staff of four pensioners ensured that some of her late husband's work survived until their son came home from the war.

The New Generation

Edmund de Rothschild continued his father's work, first bringing the gardens back to their former state, then continuing to cultivate new parts of the garden and to raise new Exbury hybrids.

In the early 1950s the gardens were opened to the public.

Through the Seasons

No matter the time of year, there is always something wonderful to see in the gardens. It has all been so beautifully planned. For example, the Bridal Walk is a superb study in red and white using the white evergreen Azalea "Palestrina" and the Rhododendron "Ivery's Scarlet". In late April and early May the Home Path is a dream with drifts of rhododendrons and stately magnolias - including a deep purple one.

At the Crossroads is one of Lionel de Rothschild's masterpieces - a pure yellow Rhododendron called "Crest".

In the summer the roses and other summer blooms come into their own but in Fall it is the leaves rather than the blossoms which create a tapestry of color. Russet, bronze, the red of maple, gold and delicate greens.

Even winter has its own garden at Exbury. The Winter Garden is where early flowering rhododendrons can be found. And, in early spring, the Winter Garden has carpets of gold and cream daffodils and narcissi.

The Camellia Walk is at its best in spring. "Donation" is smothered with single and semi-double pink blooms - on the same bush!

Mini-Steam Locomotive

In May 2008 HM Queen Elizabeth II visited Exbury to see the new steam locomotive mini-train and to take a ride on it. The "Mariloo" wends its way slowly through these beautiful gardens.

Directions:

Exbury Gardens in the New Forest is three miles west of Southampton. Take the A236 south towards Fawley, turn right on the B3054 towards Beaulieu. About one and one-half miles, turn left to Exbury. If you miss it, go on to Beaulieu and ask for directions.

Admission:

High season (mid-March to mid June): Adult - $15/Child (3-15) - $3/Senior - $14. (The dollar prices are approximate depending on the rate of exchange).

Rest of the Year: Adult - $13/Child - $3/Senior - $12.

Opening hours: Mid March - mid November 10.00 a.m. - 5.30 p.m. (or dusk in November).

Near Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire is a wonderful French Chateau - Waddesdon Manor - which also belonged to one of the Rothschild family.