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After my first visit to the site in January 1999, I actually turned the offer down. But temptation got the better of me.

I took charge of the garden restoration just four months before Aberglasney Gardens opened to the public in July 1999. With barely a plant to be seen, a huge amount of work was undertaken in the early stages of the garden's restoration.

Left to right: Nomocharis saluenensis (Chinese lily), Cypripedium parviflorum (Greater Yellow Lady's-slipper), Meconopsis grandis (Himalayan blue poppy)

The initial years at Aberglasney were the most exciting in my horticultural career: for the first time, I was able to introduce and cultivate some of the most exquisitely beautiful plants available, including species of the delicate Chinese lily Nomocharis, lady's slipper orchids Cypripedium and the Himalayan blue poppy, Meconopsis, as well as 50 different magnolias.

Living on-site and having the responsibility of the garden's design, it soon became 'my garden'. I initially spent most daylight hours tending to the ten acres.

I think the highlight of my accomplishments at Aberglasney was the creation of the - an indoor garden created within the ruined rooms of the mansion.

I never thought it would ever come to fruition, but due to the magnanimous benefaction of an American couple, Frank and Anne Cabot, the unique indoor garden was opened in 2005.

I was thrilled when in 2006 it won an award for Best Garden Design/Construction Project in the UK. The other notable highlight was receiving an award for the book I wrote, entitled The Flowering of Aberglasney, which won the Garden Media Guild's 'Inspirational Book of the Year' award in December 2009.

I thought I would be at Aberglasney until I retired, but the amount of time dealing with the more mundane office tasks (not to mention the bureaucracy and paperwork of running a business) seemed to increase each year, limiting my time in the garden to evenings and weekends.

With most of the garden complete, I had a niggling dilemma - do I stay, or do I grasp the opportunity and take on one more hands-on challenge of yet another restoration/renovation project?

I got to hear of someone who needed a person to do just that, with the appealing attraction of working just five days a week.

I now work in a totally different environment; I have less staff and no visiting public. I now once again have the opportunity to revisit a host of other renowned gardens nearby regularly - , , , and , to name but a few.

But leaving Aberglasney was the most difficult career decision I have made. It was so much part of me. I am immensely grateful for the amazing opportunity that Aberglasney gave me, and the wonderful people I worked with and met.

Aberglasney as it is today