IF IT is true that daffodils herald in the start of spring, then it is definitely spring time at Cotehele where, little by little, the flowering bulbs are erupting into colour.

Cotehele's annual daffodil weekend is Saturday and Sunday, March 22 and 23, and gardeners on the National Trust estate are hopeful the favourite spring bulb will be in full bloom during the weekend for the third year in a row.

Cotehele's senior gardener Aimee Kingdom said: 'This year, more than ever, the daffodils are a welcome sight after so many weeks of bad weather. Daffodil weekend will be a fantastic chance to see our wonderful collection of historic daffodils, including heirloom varieties which are 200 years old.'

Visitors will be able to see around 250 different varieties of daffodils in total.

'Many people don't know that, in addition to traditional yellow blossoms, some daffodils are peach and white, and some have trumpets that are flat with a bit of ruffle,' said Aimee.

'Similarly, some don't have a scent, while others have a fragrance you can detect from right across the courtyard.'

A garden tour highlighting the different varieties of daffodils will take place on both Saturday and Sunday at 2pm. There will also be children's activities, daffodils for sale and daffodil displays.

Not only will Cotehele's daffodils be in bloom, but also osmanthus, chaenomeles (flowering quince), lonicera (honeysuckle), primroses, cowslips and helebores. The daffodil festivities will run from 11am to 4pm each day and Cotehele's gardens are open from dawn to dusk.