Carole Ann Powers on the garden she tends with husband Stephen in Whalley

DESCRIBE YOUR GARDEN

asa Lago has two Koi ponds, ferns from around the world, acers, bamboos, grasses, bananas and a succulent garden.

Interesting features include a black limestone wall, oak pergolas and fruit patio.

Once a year we open our garden to the public and that gives us both great pleasure when people come to see the garden.

They sometimes spend several hours walking around, sitting and admiring the garden.

We have some ladies who come on the bus from Barnoldswick to see the garden, a man from Cumbria and a couple who have visited us on four occasions. We had 300 people come one year.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THE GARDEN?

We really don’t plan too many things in the garden. I run my own business – The Pampered Pooch dog-grooming studioand my husband is a scientist – so there is a lot of pressure on both our time.

The garden is our oasis and we love it how it is – as a tranquil haven.

HOW DID YOU GET INTO GARDENING?

We were both accidental gardeners really. There was nothing planned - it just evolved.

Neither of us had a horticultural background. I had no interest at all.

I was brought up by my grandmother, who is 100 this year, and she enjoyed gardening.

Gran lives in Whalley and we bring her to see the garden when we can.

I remember reading a few books and watching TV programmes about gardening, and I became more and more interested.

When we bought the house the garden was a mess. It looked like an overgrown field, so to see it now is pretty incredible.

A few years ago, the BBC arrived and filmed it for Gardener’s World.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FEATURE AND WHY?

I think the succulent garden, it always gets so many nice comments from the visitors.

We grow the Aeonium, a sub-tropical plant, which is very rare in this part of the world.

They usually only thrive in a warmer climate, like the Isles of Scilly, Cornwall or the Channel Islands.

They winter in the greenhouse and when summer comes we bring them out. Some of the plants are taller than me.

There are influences from all over the world really. The garden is South-West facing, and it does gets the sun when it decides to shine.

It is very sheltered, though, so it can be a few degrees warmer in the garden than in the village.

It is amazing and we seem to have our own micro-climate, which obviously encourages the flowers and plants to prosper.

HOW MUCH TIME IS SPENT IN THE GARDEN?

Remarkably little really because of the time we have to spend doing other things.

Before the open day we both have a week off work and give it a really big blast. You have to keep on top of it because of the different areas of the garden, with the many different types of plants that do need tending.

We split up the garden duties between us – it is a real team effort.

We certainly don’t work full-time in the garden, we just do what we can at weekends and the odd evening in the summer.

HAVE YOU SUFFERED ANY GARDEN CATASTROPHES?

We thought we’d lost a banana plant a couple of winters ago, but suddenly it has started to grow again.

You never know with plants or trees do you?

We had some Wisteria that was really struggling but suddenly it has regenerated itself.

We spent a fortune on tree ferns but, sadly, the snow and bitter cold finished them off.

WHY DO YOU ENJOY GARDENING?

We both love it. The fresh air and exercise is good for your health and when I step out into the garden it gives me a lot of satisfaction to see what we’ve created.

Some people who have visited say they’ve gone home inspired and that is a really lovely compliment. Gardens do lift people’s spirits.

TOP GARDENING TIPS

Work with what you have. In the North West it is cold and wet so don’t choose exotic plants. Instead choose Rhodedendrons, Azaleas and Crane’s Bill – proper geraniums not the ones that you see at shows. They grow everywhere and slugs don’t like them.