Maria White's open garden in Wanniassa to raise money for motor neurone disease

"Thirteen years ago, I used to do the YMCA Women's and Girls' Jog-Along," she says.

"I was involved in arranging that.

"I met Marg vanBelkom and we ran together for 11 and a half years."

A year and a half ago her friend began experiencing symptoms that turned out to be the onset of motor neuron disease.

"It leaves you feeling quite useless," she says.

"A year and a half later, she can't even stand up."

Maria, a retired massage therapist, wanted to do something to help and decided to hold an open garden to raise funds for research into motor neurone disease to help find a cure. She has lived in her house in Wanniassa for 36 years and loves gardening. The result, cultivated for decades. is a cottage garden full of colour and life with several hundred flowers and plants.

"It has roses and fruit trees and two water tanks," Maria says.

While there are many colours in the garden including lots of green and red, Maria admits to having a well-represented favourite

"I've got a lot of pink," she says.

"There's a beautiful lemon tree, a fishpond and a pergola where coffee is going to be served."

The array of flowers, trees and other garden growth should be, she says, "a feast for the eyes".

Her husband Jim, a retired plumber, while "not allowed to touch the garden", has also been an essential part of the process, she says: "I'm the brains, he's the brawn ... I couldn't have done this without him."

Maria hopes to attract about 500 people over the three days of the open garden - "I'm thinking big" - and to help attract people is holding a raffle, a plant sale and a children's animal hunt in addition to the open garden itself.

Maria White's open garden is at 29 Holden Crescent, Wanniassa from Friday to Sunday, November 17 to 19, 10am to 3pm. Entry $8 adults, $5 pensioners, free for children 18 and under. All proceeds to motor neurone disease research.