It’s officially spring in Cornwall as magnolia blooms are sent to Downing Street
February 10th, 2016
Magnolias picked from some of Cornwall’s greatest gardens will be presented to Prime Minister David Cameron to celebrate Cornwall’s earliest spring in more than a century.
The bouquet will be presented by growers from six champion Magnolia campbellii trees in Caerhays Castle Gardens, Trebah Garden, Tregothnan, Trewidden, Trewithen and The Lost Gardens of Heligan.
It is said that when there are 50 blooms on each of the county’s most important Magnolia trees, then it is officially Spring, with this being the fifth year spring has been declared in this way for Cornwall and the first time a bouquet has been presented to Downing Street to mark the occasion.
Prime Minister David Cameron regularly takes his summer holidays in Cornwall and can be found bodyboarding in the Atlantic waves said:
“I am delighted these magnificent flowers have been presented to Downing Street from The Great Gardens of Cornwall. Marking the early arrival of spring, they also symbolise the outstanding beauty and growth of Cornwall, one of the UK’s most precious gems. A place close to my heart, with its stunning beaches to wooded valleys, Cornwall attracts millions of visitors from across the nation and the world every year.”
Charles Williams, Chairman of the Great Gardens of Cornwall said the moment Cornish Magnolias flower, spring has arrived in England.
“Cornwall’s magnolias are multi-prize winning and truly stunning. This year the magnolias are particularly early and they are a sight not to be missed.”
His family has kept a diary of daily happenings in the Caerhays gardens since 1897, adding “I can say with great certainty that this is a uniquely early magnolia season. We saw our first flowering magnolia, (a hybrid of M. mollicomata and M. Campbellii) on January 3. In 2010 or 2011 we had a magnolia flower on the table in very late January but this beats all known or conceivable records by about a month. Quite staggering.”
Iain Davies, Head of Gardens & Estate at Heligan said of the early Cornish spring:
“The Great Gardens of Cornwall are stunning at any time of year, but one of the very best times to visit Cornish spring gardens is when Cornish Magnolias are in full bloom during the early part of the season”.
Spring is an ideal time to visit Cornwall, home to spectacular gardens from the Eden Project and the Lost Gardens of Heligan, to Fowey’s Headland Garden and with The Valley’s fantastic selection of luxury Cornwall cottages it’s never been easier to come and enjoy Cornwall’s exceptional natural beauty.
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Photo by: Rod Allday