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

Regardless of wind, cold and snow there are many flowers to see along the Main Path. Notice the warm, deep pink globular flowers with light-coloured styles protruding on Hakea crassinervia [Section 221], a low, spreading plant. The walk then starts at the far end of the Café building where the unusual wattle Acacia alata [Section 240] has arching stems which resemble a continuous, flattened leaf along which are cream flower balls.

Just off the Main Path, Callistemon citrinus [Section 9] is a large shrub bearing many red bottlebrushes. Another plant off the path is the prostrate Eremophila debilis [Section 302], with neatly arranged leaves shared with attractive red berries along the arching stems. Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 30] is illuminated with bright gold flower spikes on this large shrub while Banksia spinulosa ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 30] has smaller, similar flowers decorating its dwarf shrub. Callistemon ‘Reeves Pink’ [Section 30] has soft pink bottlebrush flowers. Opposite, Banksia integrifolia var. integrifolia [Section 30] is tall and splendid with silver-backed leaves and lemon flower spikes. At its base a prostrate Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia [Section 30] has wandering branches and similar upright lemon flowers.

Unlike most grevilleas which are still tightly in bud, Grevillea paniculata [Section 26] has perfumed white flowers with yellow tips amid fine, divided leaves. Grevillea sp. aff. miqueliana ‘Nullica’ [Section 26] is neat and rounded with soft pink-red pendent spider flowers mixed with the soft grey-green foliage.

In the upper corner of the Sydney Region Flora the splash of waxy pink star flowers of Crowea saligna [Section 191] have produced a pleasing picture. Along the path, Grevillea baueri subsp. asperula [Section 191] is dark with red buds, just maturing to red and cream spider flowers. The shrubs crowd around Crowea exalata [Section 191], dainty with pale pink star flowers. Epacris impressa (Mimosa Rocks) [Section 191] is bright with pink tubular flowers along its low, mostly upright, branches. Behind the seat Epacris calvertiana [Section 191] is similar but with white flowers. Beside this seat, in the rock wall, fossils of the seed-fern Glossopteris can be viewed. At the top corner a tall Grevillea victoriae [Section 191] dangles its red spider flowers.

The path winds through the Eucalypt Lawn, then passes by Hakea laurina [Section 20] which bears deep red, globular flowers, some with cream styles, on this open shrub. Passing by the Rock Garden, the path is edged with a low, dense herb, Chrysocephalum apiculatum [Section 4,15R] with small heads of yellow flowers. Dampieras in the Rock Garden include Dampiera linearis [Section 15R] with bright blue flowers on upright stems. Hakea sericea [Section 16] has sharp, fine foliage with lacy white flowers, many on new, red growth. The Rainforest Gully is cool with many shades of green and leaves of varying shapes and then, along the downward ramp, the yellow straw daisies of Bracteantha sp. nov. [Section 210] are bright and warming.

Exhilarating and enjoyable… Barbara Daly.