Glendurgan near Falmouth was among nine gardens taking part in the National Trust's flower count this year, which saw 63 per cent more blooms on trust properties by Valentine's this year compared to the last.

The snowdrop was the top spring flower for the third year running in the south west, as National Trust Garden teams in the south west have recorded more flowers in bloom in this year’s annual Valentine’s Flower Count, with nearly all gardens showing an increase in the varieties of plants to have opened.

In 2008 3,335 plants in bloom were recorded in Devon and Cornwall, where the flower count first started, marking the earliest spring so far recorded. 2,644 plants were recorded in gardens across the whole of the South West this year compared to 1,622 in 2015.

Matched by record breaking amounts rain falling in December, the very mild and dull weather this winter has been causing huge confusion to plants in National Trust gardens across the south west. Many flowers and plants have continued to flower all winter, some are appearing all together and some plants have appeared much earlier than normal.

Daffodils are appearing with snowdrops and even a bluebell or two has struggled to the surface boosted by mild weather. Varieties of magnolia which usually flower over a period of months are appearing together and much earlier than usual. Even summer flowering plants such as hydrangea’s, fuchsia and agapanthus are flowering.

Ian Wright, south west gardens advisor, said: "Spring is my favourite time of year and after a long wet winter, I think it’s just about here albeit in a slightly confused way. Provided the high winds and storms we are experiencing this week don’t blow away all the blooms, it’s time to get back in touch with plants and enjoy this annual spectacular show. You can almost map the progress of spring as it travels from west to east and south to north by way of the flowers in our gardens.

"Despite the mild weather, record levels of rain have made working in the gardens really difficult for our teams. Our borders are saturated with water so we could really do with some dry and sunny weather. But what we don’t want is a cold snap. With all the soft growth in our plants, a period of hard frost could potentially cause huge damage."

"After a long wet winter, we all want to get out there and enjoy the spring and luckily for us this year it seems to be even earlier this year, but the extremes of weather we are experiencing from drier hotter summers to mild wet winters are a major concern for our gardens and what the long term effects will be if they continue. The changes in our garden can be seen as a clear indicator of climate change and poses the single biggest conservation challenge to our gardens and places we care for."

Now the trust has asked supporters to get involved and register what they have in flower in their garden.