Gardening great Adrian Bloom is preparing for the keenly anticipated launch of his book on Foggy Bottom
The head gardener and owner of one of the county’s most celebrated gardens has revealed the 57-year history behind its ever-evolving story in a book.
The horticultural haven named Foggy Bottom began its life as a windswept meadow in 1966, before being gradually transformed into a garden marvel, carpeted by its peaceful tapestry of plants.
Carefully and creatively tended to by three generations of the Bloom family, as a key component of Bressingham gardens, the most recent care-giver to this six-acre verdant delight is 83-year-old Adrian Bloom.
Having already penned 10 books on gardening, Mr Bloom’s latest offering, Foggy Bottom – A Garden to Share, is described by its author as “the start of a journey to learn, think, see, and absorb” the garden as it changes through the seasons.
“As my privileged visitor within this book, you see will the six-acre garden not just on one day, but magically at several times in the year in a single visit,” he said.
“You are made aware, through images and copy, of what makes this garden work.
“The best time to take in the atmosphere of the garden is often when the gardens are not open, and in early morning and evening.
“This book is your guide, the start if you want, of a journey to learn, think, see and absorb. You can get to know the design, layout and vistas. Enjoy the early morning mists, the autumn colour, and the winter light.
“In close up, see what the photographer sees, imagine yourself behind the lens spotting the spider’s web, the frosted foliage, the veins of leaves. You are in the garden, both alone and sharing.”
An official launch of the book, along with a book signing, will take place in the treehouse in the garden on September 2, with the pre-booked £7 tickets offering garden tours from 1.30pm, an address by Mr Bloom at 3pm and a ticket for the raffle, which will also be drawn at 3pm.
A giant of the horticultural world, Mr Bloom got his first taste of the gardening industry when he joined Blooms Nurseries – begun by his father, Alan Bloom – in 1962, aged 22.
He not only added a completely new range of plants to the Blooms business at Bressingham gardens, but promoted conifers and heathers across the country, selling container-grown plants to the burgeoning garden centre market.
Over the decades that followed, the former Diss Grammar School pupil became heavily involved in setting up the Bressingham gardens exhibit at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show for 35 years, collecting 26 gold medals.
Mr Bloom has also collected several individual accolades, including the Victoria Medal of Honour from the RHS.
His father received the same award in 1972, making them the only father and son ever to hold the award at the same time.
In 2015, Mr Bloom was given the annual Lifetime Achievement Award by the Garden Media Guild, and in the US in 2001, received the George Robert White award by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.
Mr Bloom’s book, of which he has gifted copies to three of his devoted garden volunteers, can be pre-ordered at www.foggybottomgarden.co.uk for £45.