"We started the garden from scratch 40 years ago. Back then there weren't any garden centres like now - you had to really plan everything in advance and send away for seeds and cuttings which arrived in small newspaper-wrapped packages. Now you can buy things in flower and see the results instantly. It's a lot easier!

We had a bit of a setback last year - about six feet of water came down from Caernarfon Road and the garden was totally washed out. There was about 18 inches of mulch all over the garden but it doesn't seem to have done any lasting damage (the house is a bit of a different story).

I had bought a plant for 10p a few days before the flood and I thought I'd lost it - but I found it upside down in a hedge and replanted it - it's doing fine! I get a real kick out of buying cheap, dying plants and making them flourish.

Gardening has always given me a lot of pleasure. I had two handicapped daughters and so it was difficult to do things away from home, so having somewhere outdoors to potter about in and sit with the girls has been great.

Becky, who sadly died six years ago, loved the river at the bottom of the garden and used to sit out with me, watching the birds and reading.

I've found that opening my garden up to the public has made me keep on top of things and not let things go. You clear up the rubbish, keep the lawn tidy - and have a nice garden for yourself too!

Keeping your garden on top form can get a bit expensive and, though you can make the best of what grows in your garden, everything can get to look a bit the same and so you need to get some new and different plants. Plants aren't cheap these days.

But the soil here in Port Dinorwig is really good. I've never had to use any fertiliser - a good thing because it's really expensive!

I've had the most success with hellebore, euphorbia, rhododendron, roses - I go for all year round colour.

I don't really like going round other people's gardens because it's a bit like looking in people's underwear drawers! But the people who have visited over the years really enjoy it. They like sitting in a nice garden, having a cup of tea and a scone in a relaxing atmosphere.

Some are elderly people who've had to give up their gardens after moving into smaller accommodation and some are fellow gardeners who come to pinch ideas - or to get inspiration!

I would recommend gardening to everyone. It's great exercise and good therapy. You're out in the fresh air, bending and stretching - the other day I wore my pedometer and clocked up three miles working in the garden!

If I'd been told aged 21 that I would have two handicapped daughters I don't think I would have coped. Life has been hard because I've had to give up a lot - I didn't get much time for socialising and even going out for a walk is difficult because it has to be on the right kind of path for the wheelchairs. So having somewhere close to my house to escape to has been invaluable. And it's a pleasure to share it with others."