Cornwall's Spring Story is the proof that spring really does arrive in Cornwall first. Each year six nominated champion magnolia campbellii are monitored in six different Great Gardens in Cornwall to record the date they come into full bloom. The moment all six champion magnolia trees have flowered with at least 50 blooms on each, spring has arrived in England.

The head gardener at each of the six Great Gardens sends in a daily report of their champion magnolia campbellii tree, as the buds begin to shed their outer winter jackets to come into full bloom. Each gardener sends photographs and the all important bloom count so that progress across all six gardens can be monitored. Spring is declared when the six nominated magnolia campbellii have 50 blooms apiece.

You can follow the action on The Nare's Live Bloomometer or on social by following @TheNareHotel and @Gr8Gardens. There is comment and intrigue, regular postings and photographs as the season progresses and the trees come into full flower. 

• 16th February 2024
• 27th February 2023
• 22nd February 2022 
• 26th February 2021
• 18th February 2020
• 14th February 2019
• 26th February 2018
• 28th February 2017
• 10th February 2016
• 3rd March 2015
• 3rd March 2014
• 19th February 2013

Over the years it has become increasingly apparent that many people do not fully appreciate quite how early spring arrives in Cornwall and how much earlier than the rest of England. Whilst there are lovely gardens to explore in Cornwall throughout the year, really the very best time to visit the Cornish Spring Gardens is when Cornish magnolias are in full bloom during the early part of the season.

The blooming of magnolia flowers often occurs around the beginning of March - a fact rarely even appreciated by gardeners throughout the rest of England. But over the last few years, spring has been declared even earlier, thanks to some mild winters. Cornwall's Spring Story was founded by Toby Ashworth of The Nare Hotel, and in collaboration with The Great Gardens of Cornwall.