Blooming weird: why flowers are blossoming as early as February

Gardeners at the Eden Project in Cornwall are shocked to see that summer flowers are already blooming in the project’s outdoor gardens.

In the middle of what they say is the weirdest winter they've ever seen, the team have noted many signs of how nature is being confused by the changing climate.

It seems some plants in the steeply-sloping Mediterranean outdoors area are bursting into colour months before they would be expected to be in bloom.

Eden's lead outdoor horticulturist says it's the most unusual time of season for the flowers to be flourishing.

Cornwall is renowned for its mild, muggy climate. Extremes of temperature are rarer than other parts of the UK, and as a consequence the Duchy boasts a vast array of exotic plants.

According to the Met Office, last year (2015) was the warmest in recorded history, and 2016 is expected to be even hotter.

Have you noticed unusual activity in your garden horticulture? Send us your early bloomers to westcountry@itv.com