Heather Mackness' garden in Hayway, Rushden, wins the top prize out of dozens of entries from amateur gardeners.

Heather's garden caught our judge's eye with its explosion of colour, earning her the first prize of £250 worth of gardening vouchers from Podington Garden Centre.

Heather, 54, a part-time curtain-maker, said: "I'm shocked. I have never won anything in my life.

"My friends told me to enter. I have a ladies afternoon every Wednesday and my friends said: 'You have to take a photo and send to the Evening Telegraph'. I never expected to win."

Heather has been gardening as a hobby for about 20 years. Her garden features an abundance of blooms, as well as a striking willow tree and a lovely patio area.

She said: "I'm mostly out there every day, particularly in the early evening when I love to spend a couple of hours in the garden.

"I sit in the conservatory and plan what I am going to do. I absolutely love colour and I like having colours in my garden which shock people.

"I am a really outdoors person but I would definitely say I am an amateur gardener. I don't know many of the Latin names for plants.
I just enjoy it. I stand at my kitchen sink and seeing the garden cheers me up for the day."

Heather was one of three finalists selected from photo entries we received in this year's competition, sponsored by Podington Garden
Centre.

The three finalists were then visited by our gardening expert Nicholas Warliker who chose the winner.

In second place was Bob and Kath Riddle, of Valley Road, Wellingborough, with their gravelled garden surrounded by overflowing borders.

In third place was Eloise Brown, of Isham Road, Orlingbury, whose garden features a stunning lawn and knot garden. Bob and Kath will receive £150 in vouchers for Podington Garden Centre and Eloise won vouchers worth £50.

Nicholas said: "The standard was very high, showing just how good and versatile the gardeners in Northamptonshire are. I was amazed at some of the ingenuity of the finalists and was enchanted with Eloise's knot garden, enthralled with the wide range of plants in Bob and Kath's garden and bedazzled by the colour of Heather's masses of Busy Lizzies."