Dear Mary | 4 April 2013

Q. My mother lives in a fine old house in Jersey and has a lovely garden. Unfortunately her Portuguese gardener has contrived to make the place look as though it belongs to the seafront in Llandudno. He has placed a large plastic owl on top of a bush in the centre of what was once a lovely circular rosebed in the front of the house. What is more, he has rigged, around said bush, fairy lights in the shape of butterflies that change colours and wink on and off. My mother, who has excellent taste in house interiors, has no sense whatsoever about gardens and will not help. Can you think of any way to help to put an end to this without offending the gardener?
— J.P., London SW1

A. It is your mother who lives in Jersey, not you. She may well see more of her gardener than of anyone else, so if harmony currently reigns between them because he feels professionally fulfilled then you should accept the status quo.