Gloria, you should visit England and Wales in the summer. We have a scheme here, called the National Gardens Scheme, where private gardens are open for all to visit and admire. There is a small charge and the money collected goes to charity. The organisation has been going since 1927 and has so far raised over £45 million.

We visit scheme gardens three or four times a year. The gardens are fantastic; there is usually tea and home-made cakes for sale and often plants as well. We favour visiting villages where several gardens at the same time. You can wander from garden to garden, enjoying the horticulture, architecture and scenery; and if time allows settle in a pub garden for a couple of pints of best bitter. My idea of a perfect Sunday, in fact.