Modern heroes of horticulture - Adrian Bloom

Adrian Bloom has been gardening at the Bressingham gardens near Diss in Norfolk for over 50 years.  Alan Bloom, his father (1906-2005), was the founder of Bloom’s Nurseries, and began crafting a garden in front of Bressingham Hall in the early 50’s.  Alan’s innovative concept focused on using perennials, the nursery's specialty, in large island beds.  Ten years later, when the gardens first opened regularly to the public, six acres housed nearly 5,000 different species and cultivars.

Adrian, returning from a four-year stint abroad, started developing additional gardens and in 1967 he established his own Foggy Bottom Garden, dedicated to conifers, heathers, trees, and shrubs.  In 2000, Adrian expanded the garden, creating a more diverse attraction for visitors and connected the various areas to form the Foggy Bottom Trail, stretching from the entrance near the Steam Museum to the farthest, lowest end of Foggy Bottom.  Today, while changes continue, the newer gardens are slowly maturing. 

Foggy Bottom’s journey spans from 1966, when the first soil was turned in an empty meadow, to its near-maturity in 2023.  This 56-year-old garden has accumulated a wealth of stories and Adrian believes the garden's current significance and its potential to benefit others are paramount.

So much so, that in 2023, Adrian published what must surely be considered his life’s work.  ‘FOGGY BOTTOM - a garden to share’ is a 400 page book telling the story of the garden from its inception in the 1960’s to the present day.  The narrative touches on the evolving trends in gardening, from the conifer craze to shifting market demands.  It traces Foggy Bottom's transformation from a stark new-build bungalow with a modest garden to an expansive six-acre landscape dedicated to perennials and conifers.

With hundreds of photographs the book will appeal to plantaholics, showcasing some wonderful plants including a 100 feet tall Giant Redwood grown from seed that Adrian sent home during his travels, a wonderful chapter devoted to grasses, hardy ferns, Japanese maples, and conifers. More details about Adrian and the book can be found at www.foggybottomgarden.co.uk/fbbook .