When it comes to music, Lloyd Matthew is a household name. A graduate of Andrews University in Michigan, with a Master's degree in music education, the talented Bermudian has been a public school music teacher for 25 years, and is presently responsible for music at Whitney Institute Middle School.

He is also a well-known accompanist, organist, handbell choir director, and choral director for the groups Word and Young Voices of Bermuda, and in 1993 was awarded the Queen's Certificate and Badge of Honour for his outstanding contribution to music in the community.

But there is another side to this master musician and teacher. He is also a keen gardener -- so much so that he recently won first prize in the western zone Small Garden category of the Bermuda in Bloom competition.

How he arrived at that point, however, is a story which stretches back over many years.

Although both his parents and grandparents were keen gardeners, because Mr.

Matthew always lived in apartments following his return from university, his horticultural activity was limited to house plants and containers.

As so often happens in life, however, it was through a post as substitute organist at Ebenezer Methodist Church in St. George's that he developed a related avenue: flower arranging.

"When I arrived the church was beautifully decorated with pedestal arrangements using all local foliage and exotic material,'' he relates. "I learned they had been created by students of the St. George's Community School, who were taught by Ms Rose Douglas, so I signed up, and enjoyed those classes very much.'' Recognising that if ever he lived in a house, he would want a garden in which to grow materials for flower arranging, Mr. Matthew also studied up on garden design. Whenever he was abroad, he visited garden nurseries to be introduced to new plants -- something he still does.

Later, through Archdeacon Dyson, then-rector of St. Mary's church, where Mr.

Matthew was organist at the time, he met famed British floral designer and author, Mr. George Smith, whose book he had read.

"Archdeacon Dyson knew Mr. Smith, and the next time he came to Bermuda he arranged a dinner party at the rectory for me to meet him,'' Mr. Matthew recalls.

Finally, seven years ago, Mr. Matthew moved into his own home, with all of its structural and horticultural challenges.

A quiet-spoken man who prefers to let his accomplishments speak for themselves, he is justifiably proud of the immaculate and beautiful transformation of once unruly grounds.

Of the site featuring his prize-winning garden, he says: "Three years ago the whole area was covered in match-me-if-you-can (acalapha), and beyond that was dirt. I didn't like the sight of it, and it was very untidy.'' It was during a visit to the Heydon Trust property that Mr. Matthew noticed roses were flourishing in the various recesses left behind from stone quarrying -- a concept he found immensely appealing. Peering behind the match-me-if-you-can, he discovered that he, too, had the same natural features, which provided just the impetus he was looking for.

"I thought, `This is wonderful','' he relates, and he began to conceptualise a new look for the space. Naturally, he sought the advice of friends, including a fellow musician.

"As you know, in all art there is a tremendous amount of collaboration...

At the time I was organist at St. Mark's church, where Mrs. Jean Motyer was in charge of the music, and she has been a tremendous inspiration.

"You want to speak to people who have been in this business for years rather than someone who is really green, and I like to bounce ideas off her.'' As an expert flower arranger, qualified judge, international competitor, and keen gardener, Mrs. Motyer was only too pleased to help her friend. Of his proposal to banish the match-me-if-you-can hedge, she asked: "If you take that down, what are you going to put in its place?'' to which the ever-methodical Mr. Matthew replied: "I'll live with the space and then I will decide.'' On June 1, 1997 the hedge came down.

Meanwhile, he set off on a trip to Trinidad, and when he returned a surprise awaited him: In its stead Mrs. Motyer had overseen the construction by M & C Landscaping of a Bermuda dry stonewalled garden backfilled with the rich soil which would form the basis of Mr. Matthew's horticultural palette.

As always, he continued to study and confer with fellow gardeners, including Miss Joi Tyrrell and Mrs. Riquette Bonne-Smith, with whom he attended the Pennsylvania Horticultural Show.

"It is a wonderful way to exchange ideas, and to share cuttings,'' Mr.

Matthew notes. "While you don't grow a garden primarily to share your plants, it is certainly one of the high points. It gives you a lot of satisfaction.'' Similarly, while roses were part of Mr. Matthew's plan, because he knew little about them he joined the Bermuda Rose Society to learn more, and also took a course from the Canadian Rose Society.

Today, following three years of careful planning and work, the prize-winning garden is bursting with recognisable and unusual plants: Lantana, begonia, alyssum, Mexican flame vine, nicosiana, tibouchina, blue salvia, cloth of gold, bird of paradise, geranium, and a variety of roses including the unusual green, and the red cascade, whose tiny blossoms spread like a vermillion carpet in all directions.

As beautiful as it is, however, the garden is but one feature of an overall scheme surrounding his home, which is as charming as it is interesting and varied.

There is, for example, a magnificent purple bougainvillea just inside the entrance gates which uses an equally beautiful cedar tree for support.

"Look at the thickness of this branch,'' he marvels. "It has been here since my grandparents' day.'' Alongside it he has planted a red bougainvillea -- "but I wonder if I will ever see it bloom'', he muses, a reference to its slow growth.

Elsewhere, beds and pots of his favourite flower, the blue agapanthus (Star of Bethlehem) are in full bloom -- a perfect complement to the bright yellow day lilies which also abound.

A thick hibiscus hedge, planted to deaden the noise of passing traffic, provides a profusion of bright blossoms, while a stag horn plant gives drama near a gate post, and the scent of rosemary tints the warm Spring air. There is even a pot of hydreangeas in full bloom -- something not commonly seen here.

"Given my busy lifestyle, I tend to choose mostly things which are perennial and low-maintenance,'' Mr. Matthew explains. He does, however, devote time to watering, fertilising, trimming and pruning.

A statue here, a garden bench there, brick-trimmed steps and pathways are among the extra touches which give the multi-level gardens their carefully-planned ambiance and appeal.

Viewed overall, Mr. Matthew views his creation as a celebration of all that is good in nature, and the culmination of a dream.

Perhaps a sign in a flower bed sums up his philosophy best: To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.

Photo courtesy of the Bermuda Garden Club Blooming lovely: Years of meticulous planning and careful nurturing culminated in Mr. Lloyd Matthew taking top honours in the western zone Small Garden prize in the recent Bermuda in Bloom garden competition.