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Meandering island beds filled with flowing drifts of the choicest plants, used Meandering island beds filled with flowing drifts of the choicest plants, used Meandering island beds filled with flowing drifts of the choicest plants, used in often-innovative combinations, are among the many hallmarks of this in often-innovative combinations, are among the many hallmarks of this in often-innovative combinations, are among the many hallmarks of this

renowned RHS Partner Garden in Norfolk renowned RHS Partner Garden in Norfolk renowned RHS Partner Garden in Norfolk Author: Author: Author: Phil ClaytonPhil ClaytonPhil Clayton, Features Editor, , Features Editor, , Features Editor, The GardenThe GardenThe Garden. Photography: . Photography: . Photography: Neil HepworthNeil HepworthNeil Hepworth

GARDENS

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Islands amongverdant streams

A molten pool of Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora ‘Star of the East’

sets the tone in late summer in the beds of perennials that radiate out

from Bressingham Hall. Heleniums, red-hot pokers and various grasses maintain the interest well after the

first leaves have started to fall.

Bressingham

October 2013 | The Garden 5554 The Garden | October 2013

Bressingham

Heart of the Dell GardenA thatched summerhouse overlooks a pond at the lowest part of the Dell Garden. Tall reed Arundo donax stands above mauve asters, along with fiery Helenium, Rudbeckia and Persicaria.

Planting diversity at Foggy BottomConifers and heathers may feature, but so too do a vast range of trees and shrubs, combined skilfully with drifts of choice perennials and grasses, all within large island beds.

Symphony of colour in the Summer GardenIn late summer, Verbena, Echinacea and Eupatorium mingle with orange Crocosmia, Festuca glauca and taller Miscanthus, anchored by golden conifer Thuja occidentals ‘Barabits’ Gold’ repeated through the planting.

✤ 1760: Bressingham Hall built for Norwich surgeon and farmer Robert Colman.✤ 1946: Estate, including 89ha (220 acres) of farmland, bought by nurseryman Alan Bloom. ✤ 1947: The Bloom family leave for North America, returning some 20 months later. ✤ 1953: Initial plantings around house and lake made.✤ 1955: Work begins on the 2.5ha (6 acre) Dell Garden with island beds.

✤ 1957: Brick and Norfolk flint bridge in Dell Garden built.✤ 1965: Garden railway made.✤ 1966: Adrian Bloom begins creating his home and garden at Foggy Bottom.✤ 1971: Alan Bloom awarded the Victoria Medal of Honour (VMH) by the RHS.✤ 1985: Adrian Bloom awarded VMH by the RHS.✤ 2001: Summer Garden planted.✤ 2006: Winter Garden opened.

History of the gardens Some of our greatest gardens are so regarded because they are closely associated with pioneering ways of planting that have inspired thousands of gardeners and infl uenced the kind of plants we buy. But there can be few that have

shaped the ethos of UK gardeners to the same degree as � e Bressingham Gardens in Norfolk.

Collectively the creation of several generations of the Bloom family, one of Britain’s premier horticultural dynasties, the gardens around the sturdy Georgian, ivy-clad Bressingham Hall cover 7ha (17 acres), and include the famous Dell Garden, created by great nurseryman Alan Bloom VMH from the 1950s, and the similarly infl uential Foggy Bottom, planted from the mid 1960s onwards, by his plantsman son Adrian Bloom VMH, among others.

Changing how we garden� e Bressingham story begins with Alan Bloom’s father Charles, who was a market gardener in Cambridgeshire. Alan and his father built up the business, turning it into a wholesale nursery and, by 1930, Blooms was one of the largest in the UK. After the Second World War, Alan bought Bressingham Hall, making it his family home. � e site is in one of the driest parts of the country and can experience bitter easterly winds in winter; it was here, however, that the concept of island beds was championed by him as he developed the gardens from the late 1950s.

� is achievable gardening style caught the imagination of many who saw Bressingham or read Alan’s books. � e plants used were often herbaceous perennials and many selections were raised, introduced and made available by Alan, who helped re-popularise genera such as Crocosmia and Kniphofi a that had fallen from favour.

� ese sturdy foundations were built on by Adrian at Foggy Bottom, a 2.5ha (6 acre) meadow, northeast of the hall. Adrian’s focus was to provide year-round interest in the garden, and so Foggy Bottom was planted with a

backbone of conifers, a group of plants he popularised, along with heathers, which initially featured in plantings.

But to think of Foggy Bottom today as a garden of conifers and heathers is a great mistake. � e place is a wonderful and remarkably eff ective blend of much that Adrian has achieved in horticulture; with the help of curator Jaime Blake and others, he has added to, evolved and harmonised the varied areas across the site.

Virtuoso gardeningFoggy Bottom is a series of large, irregularly shaped island beds, separated by wide, meandering turf paths. � ere is a large pond at the bottom, furthest from Adrian’s own home. � e sheer diversity of plants is staggering; a wealth of mature trees, conifers (of which there are more than 500 selections) and shrubs fi ll central spaces of the beds, while drifts of carefully chosen perennials and other low plants revel at the margins. � e feel is relaxed and open, yet shel-tered, like walking through a clearing in an enchanted wood.

Adrian is a plantsman discerning enough to be able to choose only plants that reach his exacting standards; rarity is of no value, it is purely about how well plants perform. � e planting style can loosely be described as naturally inspired – although perennials and bulbs are planted in drifts, they fi ll sections of beds on a scale that is easier to relate to than vast prairies. Adrian has, in recent years, experi mented with planting in ‘rivers’ (see � e Garden, Aug 2010, pp540–543); threads of superlative perennials such as Geranium Rozanne (‘Gerwat’), its rippling blue fl owers leading the eye through plantings. Elsewhere the

trick is repeated with lush ferns, black-leaved Ophiopogon, the silver hearts of Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’ (a Bressingham signature plant) and, most dramatically, the bloody blades of Imperata cylindrica ‘Rubra’ weaving between white heathers. Indeed, grasses are another great favourite as they help to bind planting and provide lasting eff ects; drama is created with many. Memorable on my visit was a glorious coupling of splendid late-fl owering, sapphire-blue Agapanthus ‘Loch Hope’ adrift in a storm-tossed sea of frothing Stipa tenuissima. � is agapanthus is a favourite of Adrian’s, but he is always trying new plants; I was also taken with Crocosmia ‘Walberton’s Bright Eyes’ (its fl aming orange fl owers have vivid red centres).

Showy perennials dominate the borders at Foggy Bottom in late summer (below). Later, the leading performers include grasses, heathers and the varied tones, textures and hues of conifers.

Exploring Adrian’s WoodAdrian Bloom’s love of North American flora is clear in this area, sheltered by a glade of giant redwoods, planted in 1965. Mauve Aster, sunny Rudbeckia and purple Eupatorium dazzle visitors in late summer.

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October 2013 | The Garden 5756 The Garden | October 2013

Bressingham

Not only do plant combinations shine: creative pruning, especially of conifers (see � e Garden, Jun 2010, pp334–335), prevents sun-spangled borders turning into shaded woodland. Some are legged up and underplanted, such as Pinus, others trimmed or thinned, keeping them within bounds. � ey resemble giant bonsai, and are skilfully integrated into the mixed planting.

Multi-season appealYear round, the gardens at Bressingham exceed expecta-tion. Autumn, with its seedheads and turning leaves, is

spectacular. Grasses, such as selections of Molinia form fountains of gold while Pennisetum fl oat their fl uff y heads; asters and sedums among others continue to bloom until the fi rst hard frosts. A visit in early winter when frost dusts the ground and Foggy Bottom lives up to its name (it is a frost pocket) proves illuminating. Shining, coloured stems of Cornus alba ‘Aurea’, its butter-yellow leaves now a memory, contrast with forms and colours of conifers, all emphasised by winter’s chill, such as the frothy bronzed foliage of Cryptomeria japonica or the steely blue neatness of Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica. Ribbons of heathers weave between faded Miscanthus, their still-silken plumes sparkling with frost.

Building on this, a recent addition is the Winter Garden, now the entrance to the gardens, which also employs the concept of island beds. A serpentine walk around startling white birches and smouldering Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ is underlit by clumps of snowdrops, hellebores and the burnished foliage of Bergenia ‘Bressingham Ruby’. A surprise are bronze cascades of usually groundcovering conifer Microbiota decussata, here grafted to form low standards, underplanted with golden-variegated Acorus gramineus ‘Oborozuki’.

� e Summer Garden, planted in 2001, leads on from here linking to the Alan Bloom’s original island beds in front of Bressingham Hall. Planting is arresting and inventive. In one sinuous bed of year-round appeal, sentinels of Irish yew form a spine with a glowing coppice of Cornus alba ‘Aurea’, in front of which run rivers of purple Verbena bonariensis, plain green

Hakonechloa macra and black Ophiopogon planiscapus ‘Nigrescens’ in ripples of decreasing height. Everywhere Bloom introductions revel on their home turf: ever-popular, fi ery Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’; various Kniphofi a including ‘Ice Queen’; and so many others.

Down in the Dell� e summer borders merge seamlessly with the famous Dell Garden which is centred around an area of lower ground. A brick and Norfolk fl int bridge, one of few built features, passes over a shallow gully were plants such as rhododendrons, ferns and others enjoy a shadier and cooler environment. � e ground is undulating and the environment feels damper and more verdant – ferns, bamboos, Japanese acers and clumps of Hosta and Astilbe abound, island beds winding visitors to the heart of the site, with its thatched summerhouse and pond.

� ere are other splendid areas, too, such as Adrian’s Wood, planted with North American natives, connecting the Dell Garden to Foggy Bottom and the Fragrant Garden, with its collections of scented plants.

� e Bressingham Gardens are too often overlooked, even by those who should know better; I would argue their pioneering yet inclusive spirit, inspiring generations of gardeners, places them toward the top of the pile. Even if you think you know what Bressingham has to off er, pay a visit and prepare to be inspired.£

The island beds leading to the Dell Garden (above) are filled with perennials such as Kniphofia, Helenium, Crocosmia and Penstemon, all in full flower by summer’s end.

Perfect planting partners1 Pristine mops of Hydrangea arborescens

‘Annabelle’ rise above the black-eyed daisies of Rudbeckia planted beneath.2 The golden foliage of coppiced Cornus alba

‘Aurea’ contrasts with the blue heads of Agapanthus ‘Loch Hope’, backed by an elegant fountain of Miscanthus.3 In a shaded spot, a river of silver-leaved

Pulmonaria ‘Diana Clare’ runs between banks of Dryopteris and Luzula sylvatica ‘Aurea’.4 The frothy parchment-coloured seedheads of grass Stipa tenuissima partners versatile Agapanthus ‘Loch Hope’ in a dramatic combination for a sunny position. 5 A startling river of Imperata cylindrica

‘Rubra’ (blood grass) winds between islands of white-flowered Erica and wisps of blue cedar.

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Border brilliance at Foggy BottomA river of the white everlasting flowers of Anaphalis triplinervis ‘Sommerschnee’ 1 runs through banks of purple Aster amellus ‘Kobold’ 2 and low-growing, black-eyed Rudbeckia fulgida Viette’s Little Suzy (‘Blovi’) 3 towards Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ 4 and superlative Buddleja davidii ‘Dartmoor’ 5 . Feathery grass Calamagrostis brachytricha makes an e� ective counterpoint 6 .

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Blooms has introduced countless popular and well-known garden plants. Adrian Bloom VMH (left)

describes his favourites, and how to use them in combination:‘For summer impact and drama combine vermilion-red Crocosmia ‘Lucifer’ (introduced in 1966) with RHS Plant of the Centenary Geranium Rozanne (2000). Equally striking would be the association of orange-red Crocosmia ‘Spitfire’ (1966) and deep blue-flowered Agapanthus ‘Bressingham Blue’ (1972). Flower timings just about overlap between pale lavender-lilac Phlox paniculata ‘Franz Schubert’ (1980) and the large, pale lemon pokers of Kniphofia ‘Percy’s Pride’ (1975). Great plants, without which our gardens would be much poorer.’

Introduced by Blooms

Building on this, a recent addition is the Winter Garden, now the entrance to the gardens, which also employs the concept of island beds. A serpentine walk around startling white birches and smouldering ‘Midwinter Fire’ is underlit by clumps of snowdrops, hellebores and the burnished foliage of ‘Bressingham Ruby’. A surprise are bronze cascades of usually groundcovering conifer here grafted to form low standards, underplanted with golden-variegated

� e Summer Garden, planted in 2001, leads on from here linking to the Alan Bloom’s original island beds in front of Bressingham Hall. Planting is arresting and inventive. In one sinuous bed of year-round appeal, sentinels of Irish yew form a spine with a glowing coppice of

Dell Garden

Summer Garden

Winter Garden

Fragrant Garden Adrian’s

Wood

Foggy Bottom

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Visiting detailsAddress: The Bressingham Gardens, near Diss, Norfolk IP22 2AB.Tel: 01379 686900.Website: www.thebressinghamgardens.com Garden open: daily, Easter–31 October; 10.30am–5pm. Facilities: Steam museum, restaurant and shop on site. Disabled parking and wheelchairs available.✤ An RHS Partner Garden open free to members during May and October; see RHS Members’ Handbook 2013, p67. www.rhs.org.uk/partnergardens✤ See also RHS Life, p84.

For a list of more than 150 RHS Partner Gardens around the UK and overseas, including details of their opening times, facilities and points of interest, visit: www.rhs.org.uk/partnergardens

FURTHER READINGBlooms’ Best Perennials and Grasses by Adrian Bloom, Timber Press, 2009, ISBN 9780881929317, RRP £20. The book profiles a range of perennials and looks at some combinations that may be achieved with them. Available from www.rhsshop.co.uk

original island beds

Bressingham Hall

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