There is one garden in particular that catches my eye on my run route around my village, it is not what some would class as fashionable in modern gardening terms there is no single colour scheme or swathes of grasses, but I think it is a beautiful eclectic mix of brightly coloured flowers and vegetables growing together.

So this week instead of running passed I thought I would call by and try and find out a bit more.....

I found Michael Kent sitting in his deckchair amongst the blooms, great to know this is achievable eventually once things are under control, my time will come!

Michael has lived at his house in Teynham for 58 years, moving there when he was eight. A few things have changed around him in that time, the garden a little more exposed with the hop field opposite and the orchard next door both now gone.

A self-taught gardener, he watches programs and picks up tips here and there. But each year is so different. He says: "If you only knew what the weather was going to do you could plan accordingly.”

Since retiring, 10 years ago, he has had more time to be able to work on the garden. He calls his garden an “organised muddle” and lets a lot of the flowers self seed.

The Hollyhocks all came from one plant. He said the Nicotiana can be a bit of a pest, pulling up as many as he leaves, the bees love the alliums and he says once you’ve got foxgloves you’ve got them forever!

Roses are his favourite, the first flush now over making way for fuchsias, gladioli and a dazzling collection of dahlias. He said he doesn’t have to lift or mulch them as they seem ok without.

When I asked how he remembered he said he keeps a note every year of when things are ready...very organised.

Ground elder was a problem initially and he had to spray to get on top of it but he said every garden has a weed problem of some sort.

In the vegetable garden he likes to give some away but he said things like gooseberries and rhubarb seem to be out of fashion and nobody wants them.

Well, be assured Michael there is one person that doesn’t mind running home with a few gooseberries in future if you have any more going spare!