There are hundreds of perennials and grasses available to gardeners - how can they know whether or not they're making the right choice? In Bloom's Best Perennials and Grasses, Adrian Bloom distills his years of experience as a nurseryman and gardener into 250 reliable choices that are beautiful, easy to maintain, and provide year-round interest. Detailed descriptions feature information on growth, care, and design tips for use in gardens of all sizes. Bloom shows the reader how to design and plant well structured borders that feature perennials and grasses with a mix of other plants playing supporting roles. He also shares his trademark "river of plants" design style that dramatically features the beauty of a plant throughout its life.

Author Biography

Adrian Bloom is a nurseryman, gardener and writer, and president of the famous Blooms of Bressingham nursery in Norfolk, England. Adrian's father founded the Blooms nursery in 1926. The father and son are internationally known for the unique varieties of perennials that they personally introduced to many American gardeners. Adrian also shares with his father the distinction of holding the Royal Horticultural Society's coveted Victoria Medal of Honour. The Blooms are the only father and son ever to be honored this way at the same time. Adrian was also one of the youngest horticulturists ever to be awarded the medal. For 30 years Adrian has developed the superb "Foggy Bottom" garden, adjacent to Bressingham Gardens, which exemplifies the art of successful plant associations. The six-acre garden demonstrates the heart of his philosophy, planning and planting for continual change in the garden. This change ensures enduring interest throughout the year, whatever the size of the garden. "Foggy Bottom" is known for its display of year-round color and for having one of the largest collections of conifers in the United Kingdom. Bloom specialized in conifers early in his career, and uses his expertise to creatively combine conifers with companion plants. Adrian travels all over the world developing the Blooms of Bressingham business and finding and researching suitable new garden plants. He appears on television frequently, and has written several gardening books, including Blooms of Bressingham Garden Plants. He continues to educate the gardening public about plants and their uses in even the smallest gardens.