Is this Barking and Dagenham’s most beautiful garden?

The blooming array of flowers, plants, fruit and vegetables is the pride and joy of a keen gardener in Dagenham.

Shibukumar Gopalan Sarala can spend more than 20 hours a week tending to the garden of his home in Ivyhouse Road.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Shibukumar Gopalan Sarala in the garden at his home in Ivyhouse Road, Dagenham.Shibukumar Gopalan Sarala in the garden at his home in Ivyhouse Road, Dagenham. (Image: Aiswarya Shibu Kumar Reshmi)

“When I was starting it was a lot of work,” he said.

“It is a passion.”

Barking and Dagenham Post: Shibukumar said he can spend more than 20 hours a week tending to the garden.Shibukumar said he can spend more than 20 hours a week tending to the garden. (Image: Aiswarya Shibu Kumar Reshmi)

Shibukumar added his love of gardening came from his father and he had always had lots of plants at home.

The garden has been a labour of love since buying the house almost six years ago and still takes a lot of effort to maintain.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Shibukumar picked up his passion for gardening from his father.Shibukumar picked up his passion for gardening from his father. (Image: Aiswarya Shibu Kumar Reshmi)

“This year the climate was really bad,” Shibukumar added.

Among the dozens of varieties in the garden, there are currently several types of begonias, hydrangeas, azaleas, butterly bushes, roses, petunias, dahlias, lobelias sunflowers and lilies.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Crookneck squash is a new addition to the garden this year.Crookneck squash is a new addition to the garden this year. (Image: Aiswarya Shibu Kumar Reshmi)

Shibukumar also grows grapes, plums, apples, cherries and strawberries as well as crookneck squash, Bengali vegetable shobji, tomatoes, bitter gourd and aubergine.

If you would like to share photos of your garden, email andrew.brookes@archant.co.uk

Barking and Dagenham Post: The garden at Shibukumar's home in Ivyhouse Road.The garden at Shibukumar's home in Ivyhouse Road. (Image: Aiswarya Shibu Kumar Reshmi)

Barking and Dagenham Post: The garden at Shibukumar's home in Ivyhouse Road.The garden at Shibukumar's home in Ivyhouse Road. (Image: Aiswarya Shibu Kumar Reshmi)