In Flower This Week A weekly news-sheet prepared by a Gardens volunteer  Numbers in brackets [ ] refer to garden bed 'Sections'.

In the pots of colourful flowers outside the Visitor Centre doors, see Tetratheca halmaturina with long, fine, spike-like leaves and downturned pink bell-like flowers on bare spikes. Brachyscome 'Misty Mauve' [Section 221,172] is a low, neat plant with soft foliage and mauve daisies of many shades. Edging Banks Walk are many small plants including Scaevola 'Pink Perfection' [Section 174] which twines along the ground covered with an abundance of bright pink flowers.

Kangaroo paws, Anigozanthos species, in a variety of colours brighten this area and can be seen throughout the Gardens. Anigozanthos flavidus [Section 126] has pinkish-red flowers. The nectar of these plants is a favourite of honeyeating birds. Melaleuca fulgens 'Hot Pink' [Section 126] is an open shrub of medium height with well named pink bottlebrush-like flowers. Across the road, Baeckea virgata 'Howie's Feathertips' [Section 124] has fine foliage and a weeping habit and is well covered with tiny white flowers. As a backdrop, Baeckea virgata [Section 124] is a larger shrub with darker foliage and covered with larger white flowers. At the next corner, Scaevola albida [Section 124] is a dense, ground-hugging, suckering plant, dotted with small, mauve fan-flowers. Walking uphill, Grevillea sericea [Section 119] is an open shrub, decorated with cerise-coloured spider flowers.

The Rock Garden is alive with colour. In front of the waterfall, Lythrum salicaria [Section 15Q] is an erect, water-loving plant tipped with spikes of purple flowers. The brilliant yellow straw daisies of Bracteantha bracteata [Section 15A, 15B, 15C] have self-seeded throughout the area. Above the rocky wall, Xanthorrhoea macronema [Section 15D] is an attractive plant with fine, arching grass-like leaves. Its cream flower spikes are borne on long, upright stems. Haemodorum corymbosum [Section 15F] is quite an odd-looking tufted herb with black flowers in clusters on long, upright stems. Above this section, Anigozanthos flavidus [Section 15H] is radiant with burnt red flowers on elongated stems.

Another shrub worth viewing is Banksia lemanniana [Section 37], half way up the stairs above the covered shelter. This banksia has pendant, pale green flower spikes, unlike most banksias which have upright flower spikes. Closer to the Rainforest Gully, see Banksia speciosa [Section 37] with narrow shark-tooth leaves and pale green, ageing to lemon, upright flower spikes.

Into the coolness of the Rainforest Gully, cross over the bridge to view the lovely rhododendron hybrids, Rhododendron macgregoriae x lochiae [Section 62] and Rhododendron laetum x lochiae [Section 62], both with similar sizes and shades of red trumpet-like flowers. Find the Dorrigo Waratah, Alloxylon pinnatum [Section 148], a small tree with open red waratah-like flowers, best seen about 2 to 4 metres past the stairs. Down the stairs along the creek is the lovely Stream Lily, Helmholtzia glaberrima [Section 144], with large flax-like leaves and plumes of pale pink flowers.

Many flowers, no more room …

Barbara Daly.