by Liza Downie & Anna Grady
At last, the days are lengthening and Spring is just around the corner! In Glasgow Botanic Gardens signs of Spring are everywhere if you know where to look. A large drift of crocuses is appearing in the grass to the side of the Kibble Palace and you can see many daffodils beside the beech hedge going up to the
children’s play area. Small clumps of snowdrops pushing through can be found in many different locations. Close to the tearooms the Witch Hazel is in full bloom – this winter flowering shrub has an open canopy and many flowers with four reddish strap-shaped petals.
Close by is an area of Sweet Box, a low growing, evergreen shrub that tolerates quite deep shade. At this time of year it is covered in tiny white flowers that produce a heavy perfume.
Moving on beyond the Main Range, the Persian Ironwood, native to the
Alborg Mountains of Iran and Azerbajan, is producing a fine display of dark
red flowers on its bare stems. Now is a great time to admire its spreading
habit and peeling, slightly pinkish bark.
Even the trees are getting going, and the Monkey Puzzles are clothed in pale
green shoots at the branch tips. Outside the children’s garden the enormous Horse Chestnut has pairs of large sticky buds which are starting to swell before bud break. Further along the path a pair of Japanese Acers have reddening shoots as they prepare to open their leaves. Later in Spring, one will have leaves of deep red and the other bright green.
Many trees and shrubs produce catkins and a good example is the Silk
Tassel bush at the corner near the Pottage garden. This has separate male
and female flowers on different bushes, both in the form of catkins. This
particular bush is male, with very long catkins and when gently shaken they
release clouds of yellow pollen. The Dawn Redwood at the top of the main
herbaceous border is one of the few conifers that loses its leaves – you can
see the new leaf growth coming in and the tiny male catkins.
Down by the old station a pair of ornamental quince are in flower. Always
good value, they are sporting pinky-orange petals and masses of yellow
stamens.
Enjoy it while you can!