Snowdrops bloom early at Devon garden

Southern European snowdrop varieties were found blooming in October at The Garden House in West Devon

Snowdrops are flowering early at the Garden House near Yelverton, West Devon.

The blooms appeared in October, weeks before their usual season, and experts said the early blooming was due to the UK's long, dry summer.

Head gardener Nick Haworth explained that the plants were from hot southern European countries where autumn flowering is not unusual.

"We've got around 400 varieties of snowdrops at The Garden House and while it's not unusual to see the odd Mediterranean snowdrop popping its head up in autumn, we've never seen so many in October", he said.

The Garden House will be open on Fridays-Sundays through the winter months from Saturday.

The 2026 Snowdrop Festival begins on 9 January and continues until the season ends – usually 10-12 weeks later.

The festival attracts families, gardeners and snowdrop enthusiasts each year, the Garden House team said, and they have welcomed thousands of visitors annually.

The team described it as a "heart-warming experience" for many, as it marked the first signs of spring after months of dark, gloomy weather.