Have you visited the Bressingham Gardens lately? Those gardeners who have, have marvelled at the diversity, the seasonal changes and the sheer depth of horticultural experience to be found. A collection of over 8,000 different plants in 17 acres of gardens might sound daunting but the displays, mostly labelled are an opportunity not only to learn about plants and what to combine them with, but leave you time to stop and stare at the vistas of form and colour.

If you click onto the Virtual Tour, Adrian Bloom will walk you through the gardens from the entrance, accessed through the Steam Museum, which will give you a feeling of what the gardens look like on a simmers day. These gardens, like most of course, change dramatically with each season, but the peak for all gardens would be from mid June to late September, with a constant change as different plants come to their peak. Spring and autumn are also full of interest and colour, and to anyone living within 25 miles or so (which would include Norwich, Ipswich and Bury St. Edmunds)would find it worthwhile to consider purchasing a season ticket (see below).

The Bressingham Gardens heritage goes back to its founder, nurseryman Alan Bloom, who began the Dell Garden in front of Bressingham Hall in 1953, planting up his first innovative Island Beds of perennials. By 1962 Alan had with helpers planted six acres of beds containing around 5,000 different species and varieties. Alan also worked together with his assistant Percy Piper to select and hybridize nearly 200 new cultivars, many of which are now grown worldwide and are well represented in the gardens.

Alan's sons, Rob and Adrian joined the business, Blooms Nurseries Ltd., in 1962, Rob to manage the farm, whilst Adrian developed an interest on conifers and heathers. In 1967 Adrian began the garden in front of his and his wife Rosemary's home, and within 10 years, fully planting 6 acres for year round interest, mostly with conifers, heathers and shrubs. Over time Foggy Bottom has grown - and changed dramatically, with some overgrown specimens being removed, vistas being opened and new plantings of perennials and grasses filling in the spaces.

The two early main gardens, once quite separate have since 2000 been extended and linked together. Adrian's Wood, a unique garden planted primarily with north american origin trees, shrubs, perennials and grasses now lies between the Dell abd Foggy Bottom, as does the Fragrant Garden and nearby grass expanse used for events and picnics. The Fragrant Garden is planted with many different plants with fragrant flowers or aromatic foliage to enjoy as you walk through.

Two of the most recent gardens situated near the entrance have their moment of glory at two opposing seasons. The Winter Garden has to be seen (open separately in winter, see below) to understand how colourful a garden can be at our dullest period of the year - and will give you some ideas as to plants and associations you can use. The Summer Garden, planted primarily with perennials and grasses forms a tapestry of different heights, foliage and colour, and the first of Adrian Bloom's "rivers" of plants. You will see many of these in the gardens where a perennial such as Geranium 'Rozanne' (in the Summer Garden) and Heichera 'Prince' (in Foggy Bottom) flow like a stream or river through other contrasting plants.

It's all here to enjoy at Bressingham, and you'll find many of the perennials and grasses you see are available through The Bressingham Gardens on this website..

For full garden open times please click on this link to www.bressingham.co.uk.