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

In front of the Visitor Centre, Hakea crassinervia [Section 221] is a low, sprawling shrub displaying colourful balls of pink flowers clustered along its branches. In the pots in front of the doors, Eremophila maculata subsp. brevifolia displays its rich claret bugle-shaped flowers and a small climber, Pandorea ‘Southern Belle’, has rose-coloured hibiscus-like flowers with dark centres. Along Banks Walk, Banksia spinulosa ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 172] is alight with golden cylindrical flowers on this compact dwarf shrub.

Grevillea ‘Poorinda Leane’ [Section 124] bears apricot-coloured spider-like flowers over an old, spreading shrub while nearby Grevillea ‘Poorinda Constance’ [Section 124] bears similar red flowers. Around the corner Grevillea ‘Robyn Gordon’ [Section 124] has large, terminal sprays of red flowers on a low, dense shrub. The prostrate, spreading plant with white star flowers amid the neat, rounded leaves is Correa alba [Section 124]. Continuing towards the Rock Garden, Bursaria spinosa var. spinosa [Section 5] is tall and slim with many thorns and is covered with sprays of tiny white flowers.

After discovering the beauties of the Rock Garden, continue along the Main Path to view Hakea laurina [Section 20], an open small tree displaying the first of its attractive crimson flower balls, the nectar a delight for the colourful Eastern Spinebills. Another hakea, Hakea sp. aff. sericea [Section 20] is small and rounded with long needle leaves and small lacy white flowers along its limbs. Beside this narrow path Hakea bakeriana [Section 21] has vivid green needle foliage. But note the green buds developed along the old wood inside the shrub. Also interesting are the large fruits which could be compared with the size and shape of the fruits of other hakeas. Hakea petiolaris [Section 20] is a small tree with a mottled trunk and is laden with conspicuous greenish-lemon flower balls on its old wood. Hakea suaveolens [Section 22] continues to bear egg-shaped clusters of lacy cream perfumed flowers tinted pink. Grevillea stenomera [Section 21] is a large old shrub with cream spider flowers with arching red styles which eventually straighten. Grevillea ripicola [Section 21] is quite dense with lobed, pointed leaves and red pendent terminal flowers.

Admire this corner of Crowea saligna [Section 191] shrubs. They are so graceful and so colourful with deep pink starry flowers. Grevillea victoriae [Section 191] is there, too. These shrubs are now of similar size and display dark red pendent spider-like flowers. Scaevola aemula [Section 191] is prostrate and spreading with mauve-blue fan-shaped flowers on short, upright stems. Banksia marginata [Section 191], the only naturally occurring banksia in the ACT, is tall and dense with an abundance of green buds maturing to short bronze flower spikes. In front is Banksia aemula [Section 191] covered with spent grey spikes. Note the large charcoal grey fruits embedded in these old spikes.

Time to discover the beauties of the Sydney Region Flora?

Always, another flower to enjoy … Barbara Daly.