Nature column: Glorious Springtime in Pollok Park

In the garden the very first Welsh poppy has just opened – first of many because this is a plant that self-seeds freely and has now found its way into almost every part of both front and back gardens.

So prolific is it that I feel no guilt about yanking some plants up where they pop up in unexpected places and threaten to overwhelm everything else. Also, the pretty aquilegia plants are in flower – I only recently learnt their proper name, having always referred to them as ‘granny’s bonnets.’ There is also an early, orangey Geum in full flower in the back garden and in a dark spot beneath the hedge, the euphorbia is out.

Its zingy greeny-yellow flowers shine out in the relative gloom and it clearly loves this spot – it is spreading outwards every year.

The birds are less interested in the coconut feeder now that there are more alternative food supplies available; nonetheless there are still regular visitations from starlings and tits.

Goldfinches abound in the area and now barely a day goes by without seeing several of them.

There was also a tiny wren in the rowan tree, immediately identifiable by its diminutive size.

Pollok park is looking glorious now that most of the trees have unfurled their leaves, although some of the horse chestnuts are not yet fully out and they hold their large leaves like half-opened umbrellas. Their upright spikes of white flowers are out, always referred to as ‘candles’ (but they remind me of the shape and colour of the pistachio kulfi I like to order in a particular Indian restaurant).

The swathes of bluebells form a repeating haze of lilac throughout the park and the wild garlic is in flower and actually smells garlicky. The blackthorn and hawthorn blossom is white and frothy and here are there the first cowslips are starting to open.

The colder weather feels disappointing after the loveliness of the warm Easter weekend but with May now upon us we can hope for better things to come.