Blooming marvel... blind Joe, 77, in his prize front garden
HUNDREDS of people stop to admire Joe Robinson’s vivid display of flowers in his front garden.
But Joe, 77, relies on strangers to tell him just how good it looks after losing his sight more than 20 years ago.
Green-fingered Joe, who lives with wife Heather, 71, tends his beloved plants every day and has won trophies at his local flower show in Crook, County Durham.
But he admits to feeling frustrated when strangers assume he is able to see his array of hanging baskets, tubs and troughs.
Joe explained: “I can’t see the colours but I can tell what plants they are by feeling them.
“I can find my way around the garden as everything is set out the way I made it.
“It is good when I hear the positive comments from the people passing but it is not so good when I hear somebody saying ‘He can see’ when I am totally blind – it gets to me.”
Joe, who was partially sighted from birth, began gardening with his father Bill when he was just 10.
He went on to work in a factory and after he was forced to retire due to his failing sight took up his hobby full time.
The father-of-five allows his 14 grandchildren and three greatgrandchildren to play in the garden but urges them to not step on his precious flowers.
He added: “My grandchildren play in the garden and people think it is great. People stop and say how nice the garden looks.
“I really enjoy the comments and people enjoy looking at it. If it was just for me, it would be a waste of time.”
Proud Heather said: “The garden is absolutely beautiful.
“I will be watching TV at night and he will be getting prepared to go out in the garden.
“I would say, ‘You can’t go out at this time’, but it doesn’t make a difference to him.”