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

This walk aims to identify a selection of autumn flowering plants in the Rock Garden. After viewing Callistemon pachyphyllus ‘Smoked Salmon’ [Section 110], with soft red bottlebrush flowers, approach the Rock Garden in an anticlockwise direction. Lythrum salicaria [Section 15Q] is a deciduous plant with upright spikes of autumn leaves coloured red and yellow. Prostanthera porcata [Section15R] is a long-flowering shrub bearing pink bugle flowers. Dampiera stricta [Section 15R] and Dampiera linearis [Section 15R] are similar plants with upright stems of differing shades of blue flowers.

Ascending the steps, Leschenaultia formosa [Section 15R] is a neat, somewhat rounded prostrate plant lovely with its cherry red flowers. Opposite, a dwarf cultivar Crowea exalata ‘Bindalong Compact’ [Section 15S] is a small and compact shrub showing its cheery pink star flowers. Overlooking it is the much larger and more open species shrub, Crowea exalata [Section 15S], with a profusion of similar flowers. Brachycome multifida ‘Evan’ [Section 15S] is another neat prostrate plant dotted with small mauve, yellow-centred daisies and opposite, Ptilotus divaricatus [Section 15R] is an odd looking plant with greenish-white fluffy flower balls. In the centre of this bed the medium-size shrub covered with pink, waxy open flowers is Chamelaucium ‘Cascade Brook’ [Section 15R].

At this corner Scaevola phlebopetala [Section 15P], with deep purple fan flowers along the trailing stems, combines well with the blue star-like flowers of Isotoma axillaris [Section 15P]. Opposite, the dwarf banksia cultivar Banksia spinulosa ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 15L] shows its upright, golden cylindrical flowers. Overlooking it is the Cushion Bush, Leucophyta brownii ‘Cape Le Grande’ [Section 15L], with silver-grey foliage and small grey flower balls tinted yellow.

Brachyscome ascendens [Section 15T] covers the slope with soft lavender daisies while across the path Banksia integrifolia var. integrifolia [Section 15L], with silver-backed leaves and attractive lemon flower spikes, sends its prostrate branches in all directions including over the path. Along the top road the suckering Dampiera sylvestris [Section 15H] is massed with dark blue flowers on upright stems. Scaevola albida var. albida [Section 15H] is equally showy with a dense covering of white fan flowers. Thomasia petalocalyx [Section 15H] is a rounded shrub with downturned pink flowers. The view overlooking the Rock Garden from the steps is brilliant with yellow straw daisies, Bracteantha bracteata [Sections 15A, 15B, 15C]. At the top of the steps, Grevillea ‘Mason’s Hybrid’ [Section 15H] is a large shrub endowed with many terminal clusters of orange-red flowers. Below, Grevillea lanigera [Section 15W] is covered with pink and cream spider flowers. Eremophila maculata var. brevifolia [Section 15F], in the centre of this plot, is prolific with deep burgundy bugle-shaped flowers and Crowea ‘Pink Blush’ [Section 15C] is most attractive for this neat, rounded shrub is adorned with deep pink buds opening to white star flowers with a tint of pink.

Such beauty … Barbara Daly.