A MONTH IN THE LIFE OF…

tropical gardener Novlet ‘Dolly’ Childs

My garden is my escape. My work as a mental health nurse can be challenging, but I find peace among my plants. The garden, at my home in Newtown, Powys, is only about ten metres long but, to me, it feels like paradise. Foxglove trees, banana plants and yucca make it feel tropical, while, in the summer, my hostas, orchids and pineapple plants come to life. There’s lots of grass, too. I love the sound of it in the wind: it makes me think of the sea.

The plants bring back memories of my childhood in Jamaica. My love of gardening began with my gran, who was a herbalist. My ‘Pink China’ Taro plant reminds me of her, as she used to eat the tubers. Most people grew vegetables and flowers there. The volcanic soil made the land fertile: you’d just stick seeds in the ground and the plants grew.

Gardening is harder over here. When I arrived in 1976, I struggled with the weather. I also remember my hostas being eaten by slugs overnight – I wasn’t used to that.

I’ve been opening up my garden for five years. I got involved with the National Garden Scheme through my local gardening club. I was nervous the first year, wondering if anyone would come, but once I had 120 people in one day! People often ask for the Latin names of my plants, although I don’t always know.

Visitors say my garden stands out. One man sat there long after it closed because he found it calming. Another said they’d never seen anything like it in the area. While people enjoy it, I will keep opening.

The design of the garden is in my head. When I have an idea for a feature, my husband often says it will never fit, but we always try. He helps by digging ponds and building gazebos. This year, I’d like to plant a flowering cherry. I’m also trying to grow giant bamboo from seed.

I collect rotted-down horse manure to keep the soil healthy. This nourishes it and helps it retain moisture, meaning I rarely need to water. I’m always moving plants around so that they’re in the most suitable spot and often lose my tools because I work so quickly.

Tropical plants can be expensive, so I shop around. Last year, I bought a wilted dahlia in a supermarket for 50p and it gave me an amazing show of red and white petals. I take cuttings, too.

On my days off, I’m in the garden from 8am until nightfall. It looks beautiful at sunrise and sunset as the sunlight filters through the trees and the birds sing. Sometimes I run late for work in the mornings because I’m busy taking pictures of it. When I get home, I tend to my plants before I do anything else.

My four grown-up children love my garden. When they were little, we’d plant carrots, sunflowers and sweet peas. Now, it has inspired my young grandson to start gardening. He sends me pictures of flowers, saying, “Just for you, Grandma.”