Number 77 on Groves Road has a garden like gnome other.

With every turn of the head, another fairy, swan or a gnome either having a snooze or showing its bare rear grabs your attention.

The artist behind this vibrant lawn is 88-year-old Marion Craine.

’All I dream about is my garden,’ she told the Manx Independent.

Her green-fingered passion came into fruition while working for the Hotchkiss Gardens on Glencrutchery Road, where she would pick tomatoes and flowers.

’I loved it,’ she said.

The seed for her interest had originally been sown while watching her father out in the garden too. She then later married an agricultural contractor.

Sadly Marion’s job came to an end after the greenhouses closed, but she brought her interest home by growing lots of veg, roses and fruit trees.One day while picking tomatoes she tripped and cut her hand with the knife she was using.

She said: ’The doctors told me I couldn’t do it anymore.

’I went to another doctor and he told me: "Do what you want to my love! Keep going with your garden, it will help you".

’I thought, "Great! I’ll put gnomes in my garden!".’

Aptly starting with Bill and Ben the flower pot men, her garden has grown with hundreds of ceramic residents taking their spots over the past five years.

Her efforts have captured the locals’ imagination.

’Children bring me things to put in my garden because "the fairies need a motorbike",’ she said.

Some have donated their doll houses for her fairies to live in.

’A lady got off the bus and brought two fairies to put in the garden,’ she continued.

’When the winter comes she comes to get them back. She says they would die in the winter frost.’

TT visitors often dismount their motorbikes to ask Marion permission to take photos of her gnome-filled garden - and she’s more than happy to allow it.

Her family help to make petrol-heads feel invited by placing flags up during the racing season.

The Manxwoman pays great homage to where she’s from with two fairy bridges - which get painted different colours each year - being centre pieces.

Buzzing around them are solar-powered butterflies.

Taking me to her back garden, she points out figurines that have sentimental meaning such as a swan that marked her 25th wedding anniversary.

Going back to the front she waves at people on a bus who are entranced by her garden.

Unfortunately the gnomes often catch the attention of no-gooders.

’One day a lady knocked on my door and told me that someone had taken my rabbits from the garden and put them in the middle of the road,’ she said.

’A fairy pub went missing and Snow White and the Seven Dwarves went for a walk and never came back.’

Marion has a positive take on this, regardless.

’Things like that will happen,’ she said, adding that she hopes the stolen pieces bring them joy like they once did to her. It is clear the garden brings a sort of therapy to Marion, who is currently recovering from cataract surgery.

Having this hobby, she said, gives her something to do. ’Some people sit in their houses all day. I couldn’t imagine doing that. I’d get bored,’ said Marion.

She gets full encouragement from her two children, three grand-children and two great-grandchildren and has received many a gift of special additions to her lawn from them.

Speaking to the cheerful gardener, you come to understand that this garden of curiosities reflects her view on life: come rain or shine - keep doing the things that bring you joy, make it fun, invite others in and forgive easily.

It’s a place with a lot of heart and makes a happy home for gnomes.