As a Writer and Author
Adrian has written more than 10 books, the major ones being Conifers for your Garden (1972), A Year-Round Garden (1978), Blooms of Bressingham Garden Plants (with Alan Bloom 1992), Winter Garden Glory (1993), Summer Garden Glory (1996), Gardening with Conifers (2001) and Bloom’s Best Perennials and Grasses (2010). An update of Gardening with Conifers was published in 2017, and Adrian has since been working on his new book, largely completed by July 2021. Adrian has also written articles for many garden magazines over the years.
Lastly , to be published in September, is his new book which he has been working on for 6 years. Foggy Bottom – A Garden to Share is a book that tells the fascinating story of how Adrian developed Foggy Bottom from an open meadow in 1967 to 6 acres of dramatic planting to become the ‘little piece of Heaven’ it is considered today.
THE PRESENT
In gardening, experience counts for much, and although Adrian Bloom has accomplished much, his love of gardening and passion for plants is ongoing. Although at the age of 83 he might be forgiven for taking it easy, Adrian hopes to pass on what he has learnt to help other gardeners have success, helped by his experience.
Although he admits his technical knowledge of computers and software is limited, he understands the increasing use and sophistication of modern technology and the possibilities it offers. Hence the ideas that begin with this book.
THE FUTURE
Adrian Bloom has at least two more books to follow but Foggy Bottom – A Garden to Share is the foundation. It is planned (for discussion) that social media can do some of the groundwork to sell more books, creating awareness of Adrian’s ideas. Through www.thebressinghamgardens.com there is an opportunity for visitors to access more information. Adrian also regularly writes and photographs for the @bressinghamgardens Instagram account.
Photographs by Richard Bloom
Publicity and Recognition
Adrian has appeared as a television presenter with Anglia TV 1973, BBC Gardener’s World 1993-96 and WGBH in the US on The Victory Garden, 1996- 2001. The gardens at Bressingham have been visited in recent years by BBC and Channel 5, the latter, a one-hour programme with Carol Klein in 2021, the ‘Great British Garden’ series.
Awards
In 1985 Adrian was awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH) by the RHS. His father Alan Bloom had received the same award in 1972, making it the only father and son ever to hold the award at the same time. In 2015, Adrian was given the annual Lifetime Achievement Award by the Garden Media Guild. In the US in 2001, Adrian received the George Robert White award by the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.
ADRIAN BLOOM
Few people in horticulture have in their career been involved in as many aspects as Adrian Bloom. From age 18, when he left the local Diss Grammar School, Adrian had little or no interest in joining the family business. After four years spent travelling and working on nurseries in the USA, Denmark and Switzerland, both he and his late brother Robert were asked by Alan Bloom to join the family business, then going through difficult times. In 1962, aged 22, he joined Blooms Nurseries, begun by his father Alan Bloom, well-known nurseryman specialising in perennials who created his now famous island beds in the 6-acre Dell Garden at Bressingham Gardens from 1953-1962. Adrian not only added a completely new range of plants to the Blooms business, but promoted conifers and heathers across the country, selling container-grown plants to the burgeoning garden centre market. At the peak, conifers in particular became 50% of the nursery sales, with over 1 million plants in production.
As a Gardener
Succinctly, Adrian has created other notable gardens at Bressingham apart from his own; a Summer Garden and a renowned Winter Garden. He has also designed and planted others in the USA, England and Germany. He introduced a novel scheme, creating ‘give away gardens’ to homeowners to promote the idea of planting front gardens in the UK and USA from 1978 until 2007. For 35 years he was involved in setting up the Bressingham Gardens exhibits (many outside as well as in the Marquee) at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show, the company winning 26 gold medals.
