February Highlights in the gardens
February Highlights in the Gardens
News
Natural Wreath Workshop
Natural Christmas Wreath Workshops 2022
What an incredible Joy having such fun creating natural wreaths together over the past weekend here at the gardens.
We used willow, cornus, alnus, birch and alnus branches to make the base, whcih we then decorated with a wide variety of evergreens, and beautiful little details.
The smell in the barn was devine, and the atmosphere was truly festive in the best of ways.
Thank you all for coming and watch this space for the upcoming Spring wreath workshop when we will make a living wreath to last you for months.
Bressingham Nursery 2022
Why You Should Know More About
THE BRESSINGHAM GARDENS NURSERY
The Bressingham Garden Nursery is run by Jason Bloom and helpers, and is now a small nursery based close to The Bressingham Gardens. Although the nursery does still supply certain garden centres including the RHS, we feel that it is more important that we have a direct line to gardeners and would-be gardeners. Quality, variety and service were the three main principles Alan Bloom outlined when he began his nursery back in 1926, and we have tried to adhere to those principles up until and including today.
Quality
There’s no denying that the perennials and grasses grown in 2 litre pots here at Bressingham are of a quality and value to money second to none.
Variety
Although the 500 or so items listed on our online shop shows good range, this changes seasonally throughout the year according to the stock available, which may include several hundred more varieties as they come into season. A great many of the varieties come from The Bressingham Gardens and are only available from Bressingham. New plants are constantly being introduced, bred by Jaime Blake, curator of the Dell Garden, and Adrian Bloom owner of the Foggy Bottom Garden.
Service
Not to detail all the stages here, but all plants are inspected and generally selected by Jason. If a plant is not up to standard, it will not be sent. You can ensure that, even at busy times, plants will be despatched well within two weeks on receipt of order. Each plant is individually packed.
Visit our website for more details and terms and conditions.
From 16th to 30th September 2022 we are offering a 20% discount on all plants. When you buy 3 of the same plant, the final discount is of 35%.
Coupon code is SEP22, to be used at checkout on our online shop.
-
- Looking across the nursery, you can hardly miss the bronze/purple foliage of Actaea simplex 'James Compton'. This, like many perennials did get damaged a bit by the intense heat and the need to water, but these are strong plants although they will be cut back before sending out. 'James Compton' is certainly in our view, perhaps the most striking of the purple-leaved Actaeas.
-
- The name 'Molly Howick' won't mean much to anyone unless you already have this plant in your garden. This Agapanthus is robust, free flowering and one of the earliest to come into bloom. Here you can see some of the quality plants on the nursery.
-
- Agapanthus 'Tinkerbell' is one of the most brightly variegated selections of Agapanthus and makes a really good foliage plant. It is less floriferous than the other variegated form we offer Agapanthus 'Silver Moon' which flowers prefusely once established, shown here in the Dell Garden.
-
- And now for something new, Jaime Blake has been breeding Kniphofias, Crocosmias and Agapanthus for a few years now, and has named several. This variety was named after his father Maurice Blake. It's compact and free flowering.
-
- Here you see the quality of the plants, in this case, what we consider to be one of the best daylily introductions called Hemerocallis 'Flasher'. It has been in Foggy Bottom for the last 20 years and flowers freely every year, as it has in pots. Not many people know this, but we think Bressingham Gardens Nursery is the only place in the country where 'Flasher' can be obtained.
-
- Cortaderia selloana Pumila. Our form has dark green leaves and once established silvery plumes (or inflorescences) which show up brilliantly against the sky or a darker background from late summer to spring. Half shade or sun where it can be seen (ideally) from a house or home window. For more detail please see our video.Foliage height 90-120 cm. (cut back to 60cm in spring), plumes 150-180cm.
-
- Carex tenuiculmis. Deeper colour than the similar Carex comans Bronze , its dark glossy foliage a great contrast to other plants. Full sun for best colour where not too dry. height 45 cm x width 60-75cm.
-
- Agapanthus 'Tinkerbell' is one of the most brightly variegated selections of Agapanthus and makes a really good foliage plant. It is less floriferous than the other variegated form we offer Agapanthus 'Silver Moon' which flowers prefusely once established, shown here in the Dell Garden.
-
- Here you see the quality of the plants, in this case, what we consider to be one of the best daylily introductions called Hemerocallis 'Flasher'. It has been in Foggy Bottom for the last 20 years and flowers freely every year, as it has in pots. Not many people know this, but we think Bressingham Gardens Nursery is the only place in the country where 'Flasher' can be obtained.
August 2022 – Drought resistant plants
We hope you managed to keep your gardens alive during this exceptionally hot and dry Summer. By now we are more aware of how our devastatingly extreme climate can be and it is of course a concern to us all looking to the future.
Luckily, Bressingham was fitted with a 50 mt deep artesian well back in the 1960s which has made it possible to irrigate and save the gardens over the past 2 months with no rain, very high temperatures and constant wind.
Gardening in the heat has been a struggle for the whole team, then Covid hit us all.
So, although one might feel slightly uneasy to brag about the beauty and lushness of the gardens under such circumstances, hearing and reading our visitor’s comments about the relief, serenity and joy they got from their visit, puts everything back into prospective and gives us new purpose.
This month, in fact, the drifts of Agapanthus, Crocosmias, Salvias, Asters, Phlox, Heleniums, Kniphofias, Helianthus, Hydrangeas, Rudbeckias and Monardas (to name a few) are absolutely stunning and we really hope you’ll hop in the car and drive over to see us, and why not, maybe stay with us at Bressingham Hall or our Glamping Bell tents.
1. Agapanthus
These South African perennial plants are equally suitable for borders and large containers. Agapanthus look great when planted with drifts of ornamental grasses, sun-loving rudbeckias and solidago. Most agapanthus are hardy and their leaves die down in winter. Evergreen forms are more tender and usually need the shelter of a greenhouse from early winter to spring. You can tell them apart by the leaves, evergreen ones having larger shorter leaves.
Full sun and a well-drained soil are the secrets to success with agapanthus, they are drought-tolerant plants and able to cope in a gravel garden that isn’t watered after the first year of planting.
Divide congested clumps of agapanthus every four or five years. Lift the plants and carefully divide the crown with a sharp spade, making sure that each section has at least two growing points. You may need to use two garden forks back to back to divide very established clumps. This can be done in spring or after flowering in autumn.
VIEW SOME OF OUR AGAPANTHUS
2. Aster
Asters enliven the garden in late summer and autumn, providing valuable late-season nectar for bees and butterflies. These upright plants grow 1 to 6 feet tall and their star-shaped flower heads range from purple to white to blue.
Asters are best planted in the fall. In cold climates, plant at least 6 weeks before the Autumn frost to allow the plants to get established. Aster is versatile: Depending on the height, it’s suitable for borders, rock gardens, or wildflower gardens. As well as being a valuable pollinator plant, its tasty seed heads are sought by cardinals, chickadees, finches, nuthatches, and many other seed eaters.
3. Verbena
Verbena bonariensis has tall, narrow, sparsely-leafed stems on top of which flattened heads of bright lavender-purple flowers appear in late-summer. It’s perfect for bringing height to an ornamental border and also works well in prairie-style planting schemes with ornamental grasses. It’s a superb butterfly plant, rivalling even buddleja. Verbena is a varied genus of plants, mostly native to South America. They tend to be short-lived, but the abundance of nectar-rich flowers more than makes up for this. Hardy garden verbena varieties include the popular Verbena bonariensis and its shorter-growing cultivar ‘Lollipop‘, along with architectural Verbena hastata and Verbena rigida, which works well in pots. Verbena likes free draining soil and full sun.
VIEW SOME OF OUR VERBENAS
4. Rudbeckia
Rudbeckias have become one of our most popular garden plants in recent years, and it’s not surprising – bushy plants produce masses of colourful flowers with a long flowering period from July to October.
Rudbeckias are characterised by their colourful daisy-like flowers surrounding a prominent conical disk. They can be annuals, biennials or herbaceous perennials, the annuals grown as half-hardy annuals, sown indoors in warmth. The annual varieties may survive from year to year if left in the garden, but flowering may be reduced in subsequent years.
Perennial varieties can be planted at any time of year, although autumn or spring are the best times.
VIEW SOME OF OUR RUDBECKIAS
5. Stipa
Stipa tenuissima is a compact, evergreen ornamental grass. It has upright clumps of airy silver green foliage, topped with feathery flower heads in summer, and sways gently in the slightest breeze. In late summer, the plant turns a beautiful buff colour.
It is an incredibly useful plant in the garden, as it combines well with pretty much all other plants – other grasses, perennials and annuals. Dotted throughout a sunny border, it can unify a planting scheme. It’s an excellent choice for a gravel garden, a naturalistic or prairie border, a coastal garden or a contemporary urban garden. It also works well as ground cover and grows very well in pots. It’s very low maintenance, drought tolerant and is rarely affected by pests and diseases. It does self seed a lot, which is not a bad thing.
VIEW SOME OF OUR STIPA
6. Helenium
Bringing warm colour to borders from mid-summer into autumn, these sun-loving perennials are tough, hardy and easy to grow. These daisies come in a choice of rich, fiery hues – yellows, deep oranges and reddish-coppers – opening from mid-summer. The centres become more prominent as the flowers age and the petals curve backwards. The upright, leafy, branching stems emerge from sturdy clumps.
VIEW SOME OF OUR HELENIUMS
Bressingham chosen for the Queen’s Jubilee Green Canopy
Our Great Bressingham Oak is one of the 70 ancient trees chosen across the United Kingdom to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service.
The Queen’s Green Canopy (QGC) is a unique tree planting initiative created to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee. All across the UK people are being invited to “Plant a tree for the Jubilee” to create a legacy in honour of The Queen’s leadership of the nation, which will benefit future generations.
As well as inviting the planting of new trees, The Queen’s Green Canopy has dedicated a network of 70 Ancient Woodlands across the United Kingdom and identified 70 Ancient Trees to celebrate Her Majesty’s 70 years of service.
April highlights in the Gardens
WHAT’S LOOKING GOOD AT BRESSINGHAM IN EARLY APRIL?
Early April has two main colours in our gardens: Pinks and Blues. Looking down at ground level, strolling around the gardens you can see large drifts of Chionodoxa (Scilla) luciliae, an incredibly pretty, early spring flowering bulb, which produces open sprays of star-shaped, gentian blue flowers amongst the slender, strap-shaped foliage. At Foggy Bottom and especially in Rosemary’s wood, you will find thick carpets of Scilla bithynica, the turkish squill. Originally coming from the cool shores of the Black Sea, this squill naturalises extremely well here, enjoying most woodland conditions and some moisture. Of a similar size to our bluebell, it spreads in the same way to provide a carpet of blue but a month earlier, and is loved by insects.
Looking up you will find most nuances of pink, from the palest pink of Magnolia x soulangeana to the confetti pink of several Camelia williamsii, to the purple pink of our early rhododendrons.
-
- Anemone nemorosa
-
- Camelia Williamsii hybrid
-
- Camelia Williamsii hybrid
-
- Early flowering Rhododendron
-
- This outstanding Himalayan Primula was selected at Bressingham many years ago as an outstanding plant , little seen but it always makes a vivid appearance in early spring in All Bloom’s Dell Garden. Long lived and reliable it is a cheery harbinger of spring Taken on our nursery, the photo illustrates what excellent quality plants you will get !
-
- Bluebell it is, 'English' bluebell it isn't. This early flowering bluebell is Scilla bithynica, now naturalised in Foggy Bottom and always valued. Known as the Bithynian Squill. Not much wiser? Think Bulgaria, Asia Minor.
-
- Yellow appears in daffodils, Forsythia and many other spring plants, and blues in bulbs like Scillas. However, a really good blue on a Rhododendron is more difficult to find, and this one is violet. It is a dwarf called Rhododendron augustinii and a true blue or purple would be 'Blue Tit'.
-
- The size of flower should match the tree or shrub it grows on. Not all do of course, but this great white cherry, Prunus 'Tai-haku', introduced many years ago from Japan, has made itself a favourite in gardens across the world.
-
- Magnolia come in many forms, dainty and not so dainty, but this, which falls in the latter category, is one of the most widely planted, Magnolia x soulangeana.
-
- Scilla (Chionodoxa) luciliae emetging from a bed of Erica Carnea
Jason Bloom’s Favourite April plant selection
Agapanthus Silver Moon Young variegated leaves just emerging. New release this year. By far and away the best variegated cultivar we have tried and tested at Bressingham. Vigorous, brightly variegated strap like foliage is followed by a stunning display of large headed, mid blue umbels held aloft on stiffly upright stems. Such a flowering display is rarely seen on other variegated cultivars.
Campanula Moonlight Large green mounds. New release from Adrian this year. Makes a mound of light green foliage which is filled with china blue, fading to white flowers. The colour as with many plants, changes with the light. Flush of flowers in early summer and again in autumn.
Campanula Purple Fountain Large green mounds. New release from Adrian this year. Low growing habit, purple tinged leaves early in the year, and stems bearing purple, white centred flowers, a striking plant.
Veronica gentianoides Barbara Sherwood In bud, Outstanding and delicately beautiful perennial forming a neat clump of glossy green leaves at the base with tall stems bearing wonderfully elegant spikes or powder blue flowers with distinctive deeper blue veining. Easy and trouble free.
Actaea James Compton Purple black leaves just emerging. Darker even than Actaea ‘Brunette’, this clump former produces strong stems bearing large, feathery, dissected deep purple-black foliage with long, white bottle brush flowers in autumn. Partial shade and moist fertile soil.
Spring 2022 at Bressingham
If you cannot make it to the gardens this Spring, we are bringing the gardens to you!
Early Spring jobs in the garden
We make no excuses for showing you the essential pruning, or cutting back of two of our recommended favourites at Bressingham.
Pruning Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’
Hydrangea arborescens Annabelle. Cut back all old stems to the ground in late March or early April.
New growth appears almost immediately and from bright spring green foliage appear, usually in June the first small lime green flowers , gradually enlarging as they turn to white. On moister soils sun or light shade , flowering continues until September, the flowers dying back , ideal for garden display or flower arranging.
Pruning Cornus ‘Midwinter Fire’ for winter colour , March 2022
Cornus sanguinea Midwinter Fire, If not already done, cut old stems nearly to the ground, or just above the thicker, yellowish older wood. New growth will appear reaching 60cm./2ft. on drier soils to 12ocm/ 4ft where more moisture.
Length of colour and interest – golden leaves from Nov. to Dec., fiery stems from Dec. to end of March most years. Five long months in Winter
Visiting
A Stroll in the Winter Garden, March 2022
Adrian takes us for a walk in the Winter garden at the end of March.
Staying at Bressingham Hall and Gardens in the Summer
We have opened a few B&B dates for the Summer, here is a little video to inspire you to come and stay. It shows the Hall, the rooms, but also the gardens and the surrounding areas where you can plan great day trips.
Plant combination ideas
‘Simply the best Hydrangea ever!’ Adrian Bloom says. That’s some statement but it is based on his twenty-five-year experience growing ‘Annabelle’ at Bressingham. A chance to find out for yourself! Hydrangea Annabelle, in the picture above, makes a very good partner in late summer to early autumn with Rudbeckia ‘Goldsturm’, which is a black-eyed Susan sensation in the garden for several weeks.
More planting inspiration from Adrian Bloom’s private garden below
Seen in a planting at Foggy Bottom and central to the picture is the chocolate leaved Ageratina, funnily enough called ‘Chocolate’. This provides perfect contrast to Geranium ‘Rozanne’ and behind, Miscanthus sinensis ‘Morning Light’. Left is Sedum (or if you prefer Hylotelephium) ‘Matrona’.
A plant for both flower and foliage is Brunnera ‘Jack Frost’, here seen in spring with forget-me-not like blue flowers against a Japanese maple.
Plant now for enjoyment all summer
We would love to encourage you to consider planting a range of plants which have proven themselves at Bressingham. We highlight plants that singly are great, together are dramatic and dare we suggest “fantastic” partners planted together. Let’s build a combination for light shade, or full sun, where not too dry.
If you want to have a good show over a long period, here is a possible planting plan. The key plant (1) is the Hydrangea, but the others are in a fully supporting role with both foliage and flower, creating contrast and a combination to last even as much as a few years. Below you find information on the single plants.
1. Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’
The number one plant in the centre must be Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’, which is spectacular in many places in The Bressingham Gardens. Many of you may not be aware that we have plants for sale, as it is a shrub, but a shrub that you treat like a perennial, cutting old growth to the ground right about now. New shoots soon emerge, first, green flowers in June and thereafter all summer and into autumn, when you can cut dead flowers for drying. Read More on this Plant
We called this hardy Geranium, the perennial of the millennium, and for sheer flower power no other Geranium can come near it. To uphold respect from others, no gardener can afford to be without, but if you haven’t got it, now is your chance (and we won’t report you!) to order. Read More on this Plant
3. Rudbeckia fulgida ‘Goldsturm’
A top 10 perennial of all time. Glossy leaves and a succession of black-eyed Susan flowers from August to October. What’s not to like? Read More on this Plant
4. Ageratina altissima ‘Chocolate’
Remember the chocolate. Forget the flowers (if you want to). This was formerly listed as a Eupatorium, an easy growing plant with purple-brown leaves which from spring emergence to early autumn are a deep chocolate colour, used mainly as a foliage plant, and combining well with the others. Eventually 5ft if allowed to flower, white heads in late in autumn.
5. Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost’
And near the front for spring flowers and summer foliage, the aptly named plant ‘Jack Frost’ is another great plant suitable for sun or part shade. Read More on this Plant
20th March 2022 Zoom Talk Gardening for Everyone
What does “Gardening for Everyone” mean?
Adrian Bloom will attempt to answer this important question in his forthcoming Zoom talk to be held at 2pm EST (7pm GMT) through Massachusetts Horticultural Society.
At first glance the answer to the above question “Gardening for Everyone” might be to use a well-worn phrase, ‘it is what it says on the tin’—from those with a big garden to only a balcony, but …….
……..You will travel back years, travel from England across the USA, seeing what gardening really is for the average person (with a garden). You will see many great plants in different environments and ideas as to how to use them. And the future of gardening? Some pertinent thoughts that might make you think.
As he attempts to explain the complicated and shifting ‘Big Picture’, Adrian also looks from his long experience at the detail of plants and gardens and how we might inspire more people to appreciate gardens, plants and gardening.
And in learning from Adrian’s talk, you will also contribute to the Charitable causes of Mass. Hort as it grows for the future.
-
- Slides from talk Bressingham, Summer Garden
-
- Children at Mass Hort
-
- Slides from the talk Bressingham winter
-
- Aerial view Mass Hort Bressingham Garden
-
- Ellebore Close up
-
- Foggy Bottom
Winter Highlights
Winter 2022 is really gifting us with an abundance of color and beauty.
Below a few highlights form the past few weeks.
-
- You’re looking through a drift of Cornus, the star of the show in the garden. In the background, Betula utilis var. jacquemontii 'Grayswood Ghost'. In front, the gold and finely textured Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Kamarachiba'.
-
- Not all coloured-stemmed dogwoods belong to Cornus sanguinea, one of our native shrubs. This is Cornus alba ‘Sibirica', which the name gives a clue to its origin from Siberia to Korea. The red stems are equally as vivid as the Cornus sanguinea forms, but it shoots much earlier in the year and the leaves do not stay on the stems in autumn. Here in the Winter Garden, it forms a nice contrast with Pinus thunbergii 'Thunderhead’.
-
- Abies procera 'Glauca Prostrata' As so often happens when a named plant is grafted onto a more vigorous seeding, the seedling can change the habit of the plant over time. In this case, you can see that this 20-year-old plant has aspirations to head towards the sky, but we have to prune out the upward leading shoots to keep it true to its original name.
-
- you’re looking through a drift of Cornus, the star of the show in the garden. In the background, Betula utilis var. jacquemontii 'Grayswood Ghost'. In front, the gold and finely textured Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Kamarachiba'.
-
- Nandina domestica 'Fire Power' Living up to its name in the Winter Garden, best in sun, very fiery indeed, especially close up.
-
- Nandina domestica 'Fire Power'
-
- A Drift of Galanthus Sam Arnott in Foggy Bottom. Adrian was given a small cluster of these beautiful Galanthus in the 1970s. he loved the fact that they are so tall, sented and with big bells. From that one clump comes every single snowdrop you can see at Foggy Bottom today.
-
- Betula utilis var. jacquemontii 'Grayswood Ghost' This is a tree with a white-coloured bark, although you can see it has started to get some algae on the older bark. Unlike some winter gardens, we do not wash the bark each year, preferring to let them develop their normal growth in a natural environment. This is about 20 years old and the bark has started peeling to reveal a different colour beneath.
-
- Betula utilis var. jacquemontii 'Grayswood Ghost' This is a tree with a white-coloured bark, although you can see it has started to get some algae on the older bark. Unlike some winter gardens, we do not wash the bark each year, preferring to let them develop their normal growth in a natural environment. This is about 20 years old and the bark has started peeling to reveal a different colour beneath.
-
- Conifers add to the contrast offered by the taller growing Cornus. Foreground is Pinus leucodermis ‘Schmidtii' with green needles and Sitka spruce Picea sitchensis ‘Tenas' centre.
-
- Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ Here are images which show its value in the Winter Garden, if you have studied a fire you’ll know that it tends to be orange where its burning brightly and redder at the tips, so it is well-named. Looking through the slender stems to view the Abies procera 'Glauca Prostrata'
-
- In a small space, you can achieve a lot of colour in the winter. Here in the foreground, you have the black-leaved Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' intermingled with Galanthus S. Arnott. The ruby-flowered Helleborus × hybridus in the centre with the golden-leaved Acorus gramineus ‘Ogon’ and in the background Erica × darleyensis 'Kramer's Rote’.
-
- Acorus gramineus 'Ogon' with Iris reticulata ‘Harmony’ These plants make a fine contrast and at one time were planted separately, although the grass-like Acorus has spread, the Iris is still there (and no, we didn’t shove in some cut stems of Iris to make a good photo).
-
- Abies nordmanniana 'Golden Spreader’ and Erica carnea ‘Ice Princess’ A softer contrast, which offers good winter colour but potentially a problem as the heather is beginning to climb into the lower branches of the golden fir. We are inclined to let them cohabit, but some of the lower branches may die back due to lack of light.
-
- Bergenia 'Bressingham Ruby' Well-named for the colour of the leaves which change from green in summer, to ruby red in winter. We may have featured this before, but, here it is this morning in late February showing its true winter colour.
-
- Bergenia 'Bressingham Ruby' Well-named for the colour of the leaves which change from green in summer, to ruby red in winter. We may have featured this before, but, here it is this morning in late February showing its true winter colour.
-
- We often forget to look up and one of the things about winter is the changing sky (mostly not blue) and the tracery of twigs which you can see on the silver birch. In the distance is Cornus sanguinea 'Midwinter Fire' and in the foreground next to Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light’ is a new selection called Cornus sanguinea 'Magic Flame’.
-
- Helleborus Walberton Rosemary's Wood - Foggy Bottom
-
- you’re looking through a drift of Cornus, the star of the show in the garden. In the background, Betula utilis var. jacquemontii 'Grayswood Ghost'. In front, the gold and finely textured Chamaecyparis obtusa ‘Kamarachiba'.
-
- A look through the Winter Garden Portal made of Cedar Atlantica Pendula.
-
- Just waiting for the first bees. Erica x darleyensis Kramer’ Rote flowers for weeks.
-
- Barking up the right tree …. Acer x conspicuum Phoenix brightens Winters day in Foggy Bottom Garden
-
- Barking up the right tree …. Acer x conspicuum Phoenix brightens Winters day in Foggy Bottom Garden
-
- A conifer that changes to from green in summer to gold in winter? But it needs to be in sun. This is Pinus mugo Winter Gold
Winter Garden Border Design and Maintenance Workshop
27 March 2022
Join Adrian Bloom and the garden team at the Bressingham Gardens for an inspiring workshop on creating and maintaining a fiery, glowing winter Border for colour, scent and wildlife.
Morning Classroom session in the heated Barn: Adrian will lead us through the planning phase of the winter border with slides and photos, with special attention to the seasonl transitions in and out of Winter. A handout will be given with plans and plant factsheets.
After lunch we will work as teams in the Winter garden assisting Adrian and the Gardeners in the main tasks that occur at the end of Winter in preparation of the following season. Particular attention will be given to rejuvinating coloured stemmed shrubs.
This workshop is ideal for both students, gardeners and garden owners who wish to add winter colour to their gardens.
The cost of the workshop is £85 per person and includes tuition, printed handouts, refreshments. At an extra £15 it is possible to have a buffet lunch in the Marquee. Minimum number rquired for lunch, please indicate lunch preference.
BOOK NOW
Timeline:
9.30 Welcome
9.40 to 10.30 walk in the winter garden with Adrian
10.30 – 10.45 coffee
10.45 -12.45 Classroom Planning and planting Session
12.45 – 13.30 Lunch
13.30 – 15.30 Outdoor Session: Maintenance of the Winter Garden
15.30 – Back to Barn, take home messages and Goodbyes
November Special Events
19th November is Alan Bloom’s birthday, so we have decided to honour our founder (November 19th 1906) with a series of events.
We thought we’d celebrate the Gardens’ life cycle, also giving new life to plant material cut back from the gardens making them into seasonal wreaths and inviting you to join us in the creative process with a foraging walk. READ MORE AND BOOK
A beautiful Christmas fair with local artists and craftsmen, food, drink and a Christmas wreath workshop and a Volunteers tea party is taking place on 27th November, and so is our Christmas Wreath Workshop
Xmas Fair 10-4 pm
Volunteer meeting 10-11 am
Wreath Workshop 3 pm
Please park in the Steam Museum car park and walk through the open white gates towards the Hall, past it and on o the Barn.
Free entrance to the Fair and Volunteer meeting.
Xmas Wreath workshop needs booking on the link above.
And why not take advantage of our Free shipping offer for books, wreaths and wreath kit boxes this November? ORDER YOURS NOW
We look forward to seeing you this November.
-
- Alan Bloom and hid Bloom's Best Book newly reprinted
-
- Magic Autumn atomosphere at FB
-
- Our wild foraged wreaths
-
- Vitis Coignetiae
-
- The Summer Garden at the end of November 2020
-
- Our homemade biscuits
-
- The Hall Drawing Room
-
- Taxodium distichum at Foggy Bottom
-
- Details of the Hall
-
- Beautiful fireplaces in the Grade II listed Manor House
-
- One of the bedrooms in the Hall
-
- Geranium room overlooking the walled garden pond
-
- Evening Autumn sun on the Betula
-
- The Lavander room
-
- The peony Room
-
- Deatails
-
- Relaxed atmosphere after the rain at Rosemary's Wood
-
- Parrotia persica
-
- The Winter garden in early November 2020
-
- The Summer Garden mid November
-
- Beautiful November lights at FB
-
- Foggy Bottom
-
- Rosemary's Wood
-
- FB on a frosty November morning
Adrian Bloom’s best selling gardening Book now available!
Create the best borders with Adrian Bloom as your expert gardening guide!
A garden packed with fabulous flowers, foliage and grasses providing dazzling colours, movement and texture all through the year – we admire such gardens on television, but how do we achieve the same effect in our own borders? With the bewildering array of plants available, how do we choose plants to be sure of success?
In Bloom’s Best Perennials and Grasses, Adrian Bloom comes to the rescue, highlighting over 60 indispensable plants and describing another 400 possible choices with a wealth of information drawn from his own experience and in-depth knowledge. He suggests glorious plant combinations, tried-and-tested and suitable for smaller gardens. The book is lavishly illustrated by Richard Bloom, one of Britain’s top garden photographers, and will inspire and inform gardeners old and new.
Homing in on his top twelve favourite perennials and grasses for colour, foliage and year round interest, Adrian’s choices are all reliable growers and each gives a long display across several seasons. They include Helleborus xhybridus for the flowers that emerge in late winter and handsome foliage that covers the ground for the rest of the year; Actaea simplex ‘Brunette’ for its attractive seedheads in winter, arching stems and large purple-black leaves in mid-spring, and sweet late-summer fragrance and spires of delicate flowers; and Miscanthus ‘Morning Light’ for its graceful, upright structure and narrow silvery leaves that last well into winter.
Over ten years since its first publication, Bloom’s Best Perennials and Grasses is still as relevant as ever and this re-issue by Foggy Bottom Books is a unique opportunity to purchase an autographed copy direct from the author. It is available only from our online shop
For any gardener who wishes to create a glorious garden, this is the perfect gift.
Reviews
Matthew Wilson on Gardens Illustrated – the review reads:“One of the areas the book excels is in the quality of the photography (by Adrian and Richard Bloom) and the care taken selecting photographs that illustrate the point – something not always achieved in books of this type, where sometime images drive the text. Adrian Bloom writes from a position of great knowledge and affinity with his subject, so it is hard to fault for accuracy, and he often makes helpful reference to the wild homes of cultivated plants to demonstrate growing conditions. His description are not rich in purple prose or flights of fancy, but if you are looking for solid practical advice and lots of beautiful photographic examples of perennials and grasses in action in real gardens, then this book is highly recommended.”
From North America
“At last a book for gardeners who are overwhelmed by the huge size of iconic estates, when they study them for design inspiration. Adrian Bloom understands the predicament; he is a reliable mentor for the do-it-yourself gardener.
His publication contains a wealth of illustrations that demonstrate how one can create lush gardens of any size while using select, predetermined groups of perennials and grasses.”
Dry Flowers: make the most of your beautiful perennials!
New for Bressingham this year has been the harvesting and drying of flowers from the nursery stock plants.
Back in July we started clearing some disused polytunnels to make room for these beauties to be dried naturally, before being stored in a dark and cool place to preserve texture and colour.
Being this new to us, it is proving to be a wonderful learning experience but also a race against time. The Summer is indeed the busiest of times, – especially in Covid years when everything seems to have to be done in those 3 months of freedom that the Summer grants – and flowers do not wait for you to have time to deal with them. If they are not picked at the right time, they are spoiled and you have to wait for the following year to try again.
We waited too long for Achilleas, we picked them too late and the beautiful creamy pink has turned grey.
We learnt that most flowers dry best simply left in a vase with some water, whilst others can be hung upside down in bunches.
We started with Persicaria bistorta, affinis and amplexicaulis. Wonderful, versatile both as fresh cut flowers and as dry flowers as they keep their shape and true colour even after drying – best dried upside down.
Echinacea proved to be an amazing cut flower, especially ‘Cheyenne Spirit’ which features 3-5 different colours and heights on the same plant. We have used it frequently for large vase arrangements in the Hall with Selinum walichianum. Echinacea needs to dry upright in water in order to maintain colour and shape.
Astilbes need to be harvested at their peak, or they all turn to grey/brown.
Sanquisorba Tanna, just like astilbe above, needs to be harvested at peak time, or it will crumble to dust as soon as it dries.
Sanguisorba menziesii and obtusa are absolute stars. They keep in vases as fresh flowers for a long time and then gracefully dry in water, and keep shape and colour perfectly. In arrangements they are very good fillers.
Monarda dries beautifully both in water and hang upside down. The pale pink varieties are pure poetry in fresh arrangements but is too delicate when dry.
Perovskias dry beautifully if picked at their peak, will lose their flowers if picked too late.
Astrantia has proven to be very reliable in keeping both colour and shape.
Heleniums have not proved to be worth drying, which is such a shame considering the amount and variety we have.
As far as grasses are concerned, Pennisetums and Panicums have been our favourites, especially Pennisetum villosum with its ethereal plumes and Panicum virgatum ‘purple Haze’ with its purple tips, which makes a wonderful filler in fresh arrangements and a great ally to give the wild look to our Winter wreaths.
It is exciting to think forward to next year, to all the different varieties we can add to our repertoire of dry flowers.
This year we look forward to having our very first Christmas Wreath Workshop at Bressingham High Barn, where our guests will be able to use these dry flowers together with seedpods, cones, grasses, berries and Adrian’s collection of fresh conifers, to make their own unique sustainable festive wreath.
More information and booking our Wreath making workshop HERE
Inspirational Guided Visits of the Gardens
Come on an inspiring and informative guided visit of the Bressingham Gardens. Let yourself be walked through the history of the gardens and the Bloom family, enjoying the wonderful seasonal displays and being able to ask all your questions.
The visit lasts about 1 hour, starts at the entrance of the Winter garden and covers the history of the gardens from the 1950s onwards, walking through the 6 themed gardens, talking about some of the plant collections, the plants developed by the Bressingham nurseries, the fascinating management of the perennial beds, also stock beds for the nursery, Adrian Bloom’s concept of gardening for all seasons, some of his favourite plants and their use in the gardens.
Wednesdays at 11.30am
PLEASE NOTE YOUR VISIT NEEDS TO BE BOOKED IN ADVANCE AND CANNOT BE PURCHASED AT ENTRANCE. COST £5 PER PERSON.
or via email: erica@bressinghamgardens.com
You will also need purchasing the normal garden entry ticket on arrival or BOOK YOUR TICKET IN ADVANCE HERE
Your tour guide will meet you at the entrance of the Winter Garden at 11.30am.
Private Guided visits are available prior arrangement – Please email erica@bressinghamgardens.com
Adrian Bloom guided visit (approximately 1.5 hours) £130
Volunteer guided visit (approximately 1.5 hours) £30
-
- Summer garden
-
- Spring garden
The Bressingham Gardens for The National Garden Scheme 24 June
Special Opening of the Bressingham Gardens for The National Garden Scheme.
Thursday 24th June 2021 from 6–9pm.
It will be a unique opportunity to see the gardens in their evening light, which sets the plants off to their most intimate beauty.
All entry fees will help raise money for the many worthwhile charities the NGS supports each year.
Adults £7. Children free.
Tickets will be purchased on the door on the day.
We will also have plants on sale from The Bressingham Gardens Nursery.
Come for a fine June evening!
How to find us
The Bressingham Gardens lay to the west of Bressingham Garden Centre and Bressingham Steam Museum, both of which have ample car parks, although on very busy holiday weekends or event days an additional car park will be open, entry west of Bressingham Church.
The Gardens lie south of the A1066 road, 2.5 miles west of Diss, 14 miles east of Thetford.
Bressingham on Great British Gardens
Carol Klein and Great British Gardens come to Bressingham
Revealing the Year Round Garden
Presenter Carol Klein and lifetime horticulturist Adrian Bloom walk through 70 years in the making of The Bressingham Gardens in Norfolk, from the development of the Dell garden started in the 1950s as a display garden for the family nursery of perennials in the form of self standing beds, to becoming an all seasons garden, very much dedicated to diversity. The unique aspect of the series is the 4 season approach, compared to most garden visit programs, which are shot at one point of the year only.
As a whole The Bressingham Gardens are renowned for their year round interest, particularly in the now 50 year old Foggy Bottom, previously closed to the public as Adrian’s private Garden, and in more recent years by his addition of The Winter Garden, The Summer Garden, Adrian’s Wood – mainly devoted to North American origin plants – and finally The Fragrant Garden.
Filmed over two years, the program reveals the beauty of each season as Carol and Adrian convene on the truth that achieving year round interest is most gardener’s wish.
Now with 17acres seamlessly joined, visitors can stroll through and take inspiration from the diverse planting and collection of around 8000 plants.
Ready to Welcome You as Our Gardens Open in March!
We are delighted to finally be able to open the gates to the gardens now on the 27th March, along with the Steam Museum. Whilst we would normally welcome visitors to the Winter Garden from early February, there is still plenty of colour to be seen and until will cut the Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’, that can also still really be enjoyed.
To pre-book tickets, please follow the link here to the Bressingham Steam Museum page.
For more details of our regular opening times and entrance fees, please go to Visit Us
As usual our plant nursery is busy producing plants and the shop is open for business whilst preparing for the spring rush! Please visit our Our Shop
The Secret Garden to Become the New Winter Heather Garden in Foggy Bottom. Volunteers Wanted!
An ambitious plan is being put in place to get a major project achieved this spring in Adrian Bloom’s garden, Foggy Bottom here at Bressingham.
In the 1970’s, Adrian was instrumental in popularising conifers and heathers which were such a feature in Foggy Bottom and many people’s gardens. In recent years heathers in particular have gone out of ‘fashion’.
Adrian believes they still have a place in the garden . They are relatively trouble free, give weeks of flowers from February to April, and are beloved by bees. Some of the original heathers planted 50 years ago are still performing well. Now Adrian wants to make a feature in an area largely hidden from public view until now. Known by him and the gardeners as ‘The Secret Garden’. So secret, that no visitors realised it was there!
Since the gardeners at Bressingham have been on furlough and when at work primarily manage the maintenance of the 17 acre Bressingham Gardens, it would have been unlikely that this project could happen this year. The ‘ambitious plan‘ therefore would hopefully appeal to professional and trainee gardeners in Norfolk and Suffolk. They would work together as a team for a few hours a week (Saturday mornings) on a voluntary basis, to get this presently static project prepared, planted and completed. This would offer an opportunity for gardeners to work with owner and gardener Adrian Bloom, and others…and be part of an exciting transformational project, as well as adding to their experience.
HERE IS THE PLAN…
WHEN? Starting Saturday March 20th (provisional date) at 9 am to finish at 12.30 pm
Depending on numbers involved, it is expected to take 3/5 weekly sessions to complete.
WHERE? Foggy Bottom Garden, Bressingham, Norfolk
WORK INVOLVED? Digging out a few trees, shrubs and perennials, adding composted bark, preparing areas for planting. Lifting 3 year old clumps of heathers and planting as laid out by Adrian. Moving and planting some conifers, planting snowdrops, and finally mulching with pine bark.
Please note: most of this will be hand work (and possibly hard work!) If you have, please provide your own tools (spade and fork initially).
IN RETURN? A CHANCE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT PLANTS! For those who volunteer, Adrian will give a guided tour of the gardens in July/August and another in late Sept/October.
If this is of interest please contact Josh Tye joshtye@hotmail.co.uk Horticulturist at Bressingham Gardens and assistant to Adrian Bloom for this project. PLEASE PROVIDE DETAILS OF EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE AND INTEREST IN GARDENING when contacting Josh.
Adrian Bloom Zoom Talk on The Winter Garden 17 January 2021
Join Adrian Bloom on his first Zoom Talk on ‘The Winter Garden through the Seasons’ 17 January 2021 at 4 pm London time.
Being one of the first gardeners in the UK to develop an All Seasons garden with strong winter interest, Adrian Bloom will talk us through the importance of seasonal transition in and out of winter aided by the beautiful pictures of his Winter Garden. The talk is free – book your place here.
