UKTV Gardens: What's your favourite style of garden / garden design?
Penny: "Romantic. I like strong ground patterns softened by romantic planting. I'm a big rose fan so lots of roses too."

UKTV Gardens: What is the coolest plant or flower in the world? And why?
Penny: "Sunflowers. I love them."

UKTV Gardens: What has been your biggest gardening cock up?
Penny: "I once stepped backwards onto something called a 'Man Orchid' - and it fell apart. Not a good move. It's quite rare and one of those plants people travel to find. I soon moved away from the area."

UKTV Gardens: Is the changeable British weather a gardener's friend or foe?
Penny: "A friend, of course. We have one of the best climates in the world for growing and we should make the best of it."

UKTV Gardens: Who is your gardening hero? And why?
Penny: "I have a lot of time for Gertrude Jekyll. She was a woman at the forefront of gardening during a male-dominated period. I also love the Sissinghurst Gardens so people like Howard Nicholson and Vita Sackville-West."

UKTV Gardens: John Steinbeck once said: "There is nothing pleasanter than spading when the ground is soft and damp." Would you agree?
Penny: "No, the most pleasant thing is dead-heading when you're in a bad mood - glass of wine in one hand, secateurs in the other."

UKTV Gardens: What would you be doing if you weren't doing this for a living?
Penny: "I would be trying to do this for a living - or be a botanist."

UKTV Gardens: Which famous people's gardens have you worked in?
Penny: "I'm afraid I haven't worked on any."

UKTV Gardens: Alan Tichmarsh once joked his obituary would read "The Man Who Planked Britain". What will yours read?
Penny: "She knew more than the impression she gave."

UKTV Gardens: Is decking chav?
Penny: "Totally. There are circumstances in which decking is the answer but generally, I'd say oh yes!"