A bumper crop of spring flowers

We Brits are famous for talking about the weather. If ever you want to practise your English in the pub or at the bus stop, all you have to do is mention the weather and you’ll get a response. In January and February the British Isles suffered the coldest winter in over 40 years: at one point the entire country was covered in snow. At the time we complained (after the novelty had worn off), but very soon we looked forward to spring.

As a result of the cold weather the season of flowers and new life has been delayed and we are now beginning to see spring flowers popping up all over the place.

About half of the daffodils grown in the UK are exported abroad, with the other half sold in Britain. Lincolnshire and Cornwall are England’s main daffodil-growing area. In Cornwall, which traditionally experiences a milder climate than Lincolnshire, the season can start in early January, with flowers in Lincolnshire appearing weeks later.

A Cornish flower grower recently commented that his crop was 50% less than at the same time last year as a result of the cold weather.

Gardeners are expecting that there will be a late rush of colour as the plants wake up and begin to bloom throughout March and into April.

At LAL Torbay we have a number of excursions enabling you to get the opportunity to experience the beautiful countryside and spring blooms. If you visit Cockington you may be lucky enough to see the carpets of snowdrops, bluebells and huge Rhododendron bushes all in bud and ready to explode with pink, red and white colour. Dartington gardens are more formal in structure but, nevertheless, offer chances to witness the wild side of spring in an exceptional annual display of daffodils and crocuses which should be better than ever this year. Coleton Fishacre is another garden that's a great place to visit in the spring.

So keep an eye out for the daffodils, primroses, narcissi and crocuses. Take a deep breath and fill your lungs with the fresh, Devon spring air.