Bloomin' mad! Winter may have set in up North. In the balmy South, all these 31 flowers were out in this couple's suburban garden on one day this week

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Here’s spectacular proof of the unseasonably mild pre-Christmas weather. Every year, Sarah Fielding likes to pick the flowers blooming in her Hampshire garden on December 7, turning them into a bouquet for her husband Michael’s birthday.

Last year presented very thin pickings: after a cold November, she found just nine stragglers. In 2013, there were a dozen.

This winter, however, thanks to the abnormally high temperatures, Sarah has collected a record 31 different blooms.

Wallflower: Generally blooms in spring, but some give colour all year round. It's appearance in Sarah and Michael Fielding's (pictured, right) garden in Hampshire is proof of the unseasonably mild pre-Christmas weather 

Honeysuckle: Climbers flower in summer, shrubs can bloom in late winter. Every year, Sarah Fielding likes to pick the flowers blooming in her Hampshire garden on December 7, and this is one she picked this year

Winter jasmine: This has bloomed on cue; its season runs December to March. It's one of the flowers she picked this year to turn into a bouquet for her husband's birthday, which has become a tradition

Passion flower: This climber is normally at its best in summer/early autumn. It is one of 31 flowers found in the garden this year. Last year presented very thin pickings: after a cold November, she found just nine stragglers. In 2013, there were a dozen.

Kaffir lily: These come up in autumn; mild conditions suit them beautifully. This winter, however, thanks to the abnormally high temperatures, Sarah has collected a record 31 different blooms.

Lychnis: A short-lived plant that should flower in August and September. A number of the plants have been flowering for several weeks but their longevity has come as a complete surprise

Scabious: Blooms from late spring or early summer, but is usually felled by frost

Several — such as hydrangeas, passion flowers and roses — have been flowering for many weeks, if not months. But their longevity has come as a complete surprise — just like the premature daffodils that are already being cut in fields in Cornwall to be sold in supermarkets and florists across the country.

The Fieldings also have early bloomers, including a clematis armandii, which usually appears in March or April, but has been confused by the unusually clement conditions.

Sarah, from Winchester, says: ‘We’ve had so many flowers this December that my friends didn’t believe me. They were amazed.’

One flower that has never previously been in bloom at this time is a pink Cosmos, an annual that they like to grow every spring.

Sarah, a retired legal secretary, and her husband Michael, who used to work in finance in the City, have lived in the property for 31 years.

Both are keen gardeners — Michael also grows vegetables in his allotment — but have never planned their garden with an eye to producing winter flowers.

‘Whatever blooms is a bonus — it’s not regimented,’ says Sarah. ‘And often they are not very impressive.’

Rose: Normally December is the best time to plant roses, not admire them!

Pansy: Mostly seen in spring and summer, but winter varieties cope well with cold

Clematis armandii: You can expect to see this in March or April, rarely December. The Fieldings also have early bloomers, including a clematis armandii (pictured, which usually appears in March or April, but has been confused by the unusually clement conditions.

Marigold: These annuals tend to flourish in spring and summer months

Bergenia: Mostly show in early spring, so these are very late, or very early (left). Ornamental thistle: Should appear in early summer and last up to eight weeks (right)

Rosemary: Fragrant herb can flower at any time, but mostly in spring or summer

Senecio: At its best from June to July. A very topsy-turvy flowering

In the past, they had a Nicotiana (tobacco plant) in flower at Christmas — although strangely there is no sign of it this year. Their garden is in a built-up area, sheltered from the wind.

But it’s also north-facing, and in normal English winter conditions can, Michael says, be quite a ‘frost-pocket’.

Not this year, however. ‘We have only had one quite benign frost,’ he says. ‘Our birdbath did freeze over at the end of November. But, apart from that, it’s been pretty warm.’

Weather records for the Winchester area show that recent daytime temperatures have averaged around 14c, when the thermometer usually climbs only to about 9c.

Hydrangea: Flowers summer and late autumn. Usually pruned right back in winter

Mahonia: At its best now, when the rest of the garden has often died back (left). Iris reticulata: This can come into bloom in the late winter or early spring (right)

Heather: Many hardier types can display throughout the winter

Penstemon: Trusty late summer bloomer when everything else is flagging (left).

Daisy: Flowers late spring and summer. The Fieldings’ bloom is tattered but valiant

Verbascum: Flowers in June but it is usual for it to carry on as late as November

Fuchsia: Will usually display all summer. December flowering is unusual

Sarah started her tradition of picking flowers for her husband’s birthday 15 years ago.

‘We just started noticing the winter flowers,’ says Sarah, ‘and I began counting how many things were out every year.

‘My birthday is on December 3, and it’s amazing how many things aren’t in bloom then, but have come out by the time I pick the flowers for Michael on the seventh.’

They are often single blooms that she finds, lone survivors well out of their seasonal comfort zone.

Cinquefoil (Potentilla): Should flower early summer into autumn

Forget-me-not: Flowers in spring and autumn. It has been lucky to survive (left). Knotweed (Persicaria): Would normally be at its best in the summer (right)

Yarrow (Achillia): Flowers late spring to autumn, so unusual in December

Lungwort (Pulmonaria): Flowers in spring. This is three months early

Cosmos: Like to be in full sun, they bloom in summer and autumn

Primrose: Usually blooms in February, so a very early arrival

Our photographs were taken on Tuesday of this week, after Sarah had picked many flowers for Michael, leaving just 11 in the garden.

But Sarah made a careful note of everything blooming on December 7 and we have used library pictures to illustrate the ones she had used in the bouquet.

‘They can be quite pathetic specimens, and well spread out,’ says Sarah. ‘I have to hunt for them under the greenery. It makes it all the more fun when you find a treasure — I found a hidden primrose this year. ’

Opposite is the full list of the Fieldings’ flowers in bloom.