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

The array of colours of kangaroo paws edging Banks Walk is quite stunning. They include the rust reds of Anigozanthos flavidus [Section 210] and the bright yellow flowers of Anigozanthos 'Bush Dawn' [Section 210]. This walk, however, is to view flowers along the Main Path and starts at the far end of the Café building, where the attractive ground cover Scaevola 'Mauve Clusters' [Section 131] bears its small mauve fan flowers over the dense foliage.

Walk under the spreading branches of the old paperbarks, Melaleuca linarifolia var. linarifolia [Section 10]. A bed of kangaroo paws, Anigozanthos flavidus [Section 8], all with pale green flowers on long stems, is quite attractive. Grevillea acanthifolia [Section 30] displays pink toothbrush-like flowers over the long, lateral branches and Grevillea juniperina [Section 30] is sprinkled with bright red spider flowers over a large, rounded shrub. Opposite, discover the miniature Banksia spinulosa 'Birthday Candles' [Section 30]. See its very young, green upright flower spikes which will mature to an orange colour. Banksia serrata [Section 112] is tall, dense and with dark serrated leaves highlighted with many long, upright, cylindrical flower spikes coloured lemon with grey styles.

Edging the winding path through the area of the Sydney Region Flora, small plants include Scaevola ramosissima var. ramosissima [Section 191] bearing large, purple fan-flowers along trailing stems. Not so small and down in the gully, a Gymea Lily, Doryanthes excelsa [Section 191], continues to bear a large cluster of red flowers on top of an elongated stem. Continuing along the path, Fringe Lily, Thysanotus juncifolius [Section 191], has deep purple, fringed petals on long stringy stems. Hibbertia diffusa [Section 191] can be compared with Hibbertia pedunculata [Section 191]. Both are dense ground-hugging plants with similar yellow flowers.

Platysace lanceolata [Section 191], of medium size, is neatly rounded and well covered with clusters of white flowers. Take a short walk to view the colourful Christmas Bells, Blandfordia grandiflora [Section 191], seen on the other side of the gully. These brilliant red bell-shaped flowers tipped with yellow grow amid sandstone rocks and are most photogenic. Crowea saligna [Section 191], in the top garden, has waxy pink flowers over a small shrub.

The Rock Garden abounds with colour. Lining the path, Chrysocephalum apiculatum [Section 4] has cushions of small clusters of dazzling gold flowers and, down the bank, the prostrate Scaevola phlebopetala [Section 15R] reveals its yellow-throated, deep purple flowers. Banksia aemula [Section 16] is a dense shrub with an abundance of greenish flower spikes.

The coolness of the Rainforest Gully leads to the ramp, bright with yellow straw daisies, Bracteantha sp. nov. [Section 210] and Eremophila glabra 'Murchison Magic' [Section 210] blends its salmon-coloured flowers with the greyish foliage.

Ah, such flowers! …

Barbara Daly.