London, Aug 17 - At least 3,600 homestead owners in England and Wales are busy giving the finishing touches to their gardens, with a few already open to the public and others set to do so next month.

The British passion for gardening is in full display at these homesteads, which have the backing of the National Garden Scheme (NGS), supported by its patron Prince Charles. Despite the economic downturn and the vagaries of summer, NGS is attracting a lot of people.

'The gardens are checked by our volunteers who operate in each county in England and Wales to ensure that visitor safety is not compromised and that the garden is well maintained,' Chris Morley, marketing communications manager of NGS, told IANS.

The garden owners can open the doors to the public according to their convenience for a day or two.

One such owner who is excited is 47-year-old David Bryson who was spotted standing on top of an elevated wooden platform showing off an array of exotic plants that dangle from a pole at his back garden, his face brimming with pride.

The Brysons live at the Northwood Hills of Hillingdon Borough and are eager to throw open their garden to the public Sep 6.

Strange as it may seem, they have a banana plant that has been giving yields for the last two decades. Different varieties of cacti also thrive at the Brysons home in northwest London.

Banana plants usually grow in tropical and subtropical climate. This gives the feeling that the Brysons have a green thumb. But growing bananas in the garden even during winter when the temperature comes to subzero is nothing new to Bryson.

'Years of research have helped me to find out which all plants can thrive well in my garden, be it summer or winter,' Bryson, a freelance landscapist, told IANS.

His garden consists of an unusual collection of exotic, Australasian plants, palm trees and ferns which have been set in an original design. It can make an unlucky gardener go green with envy.

Bryson says teaming up with NGS gives him an opportunity to work for a noble cause.