October 2009

Alan's Exbury namesake

Gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh came to Exbury – and had a sparkling new jewel lily named after him.

Expert Alan was amazed by the glittering display of Nerine sarniensis in the Gardens’ Five Arrows Gallery.
“I’m honoured to have one of these lovely plants named after me,” he said.
The pale pink jewel lily has been bred at Exbury by Nicholas de Rothschild and Theo Herselman, who looks after the extensive Nerine collection.

There was more excitement for Alan who confessed to being a steam buff – he enjoyed a ride through the world-famous Gardens on the footplate of ‘Rosemary’, one of Exbury’s three steam engines. “That ride was the best fun I’ve had in one morning,” he said.

Nicholas de Rothschild, whose grandfather started breeding Nerines at Exbury in the first half of the twentieth century, was delighted with the new Nerine sarniensis ‘Alan Titchmarsh’.

“We can't think of anyone better to name our new Nerine after than Alan - we think he perfectly represents the sparkling qualities of the flower,” he said.
The nerines, or jewel lilies, are on display at Exbury until the end of October.