CHRISTMAS has started early at Cotehele as the gardening team has just picked the first flower for its annual Christmas garland.

Every November Cotehele gardeners build a 60-foot long swag, made up of tens of thousands of flowers, all grown and dried at Cotehele. It then hangs for six festive weeks in the hall of the house.

Although picking the first flower in the middle of May seems like a long way off Christmas, this year it was later than usual.

Dave Bouch, head gardener, said: 'Some years we pick the first flower at the beginning of April but this year it's been too cold and grey. Now that the sun is coming out, we've started the harvest. It always amazes me how quickly they flower once the sun comes out.'

About six different types of flowers will go into the garland. The gardeners are also trying a new flower this year, helichrysum 'ruby cluster' but they will not know for months if it will work. Among the first flowers to bloom is the helipterum 'pierrot', or strawflower.

'I'll be more than happy if we get 30,000 flowers,' said Dave. 'Some years we get as few as 20,000 and a couple of years ago we had 44,000. How many is completely down to the summer — we need sunny days and low rainfall. That's the joy of gardening. You've got to love it.'

Flowers growing for the garland can be seen in the cut flower garden at Cotehele. Visitors will be able to watch and help the gardeners build this year's garland in the first week of November.