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

Grevillea ‘Scarlet Sprite’ [Section 174] adds warmth to these bracing sunny days for this neatly rounded shrub is well covered with warm scarlet flowers, the nectar of which is favoured by colourful honeyeaters. Towards the bridge, the grass trees, Xanthorrhoea sp. [Section 60] attractively display their well-groomed radiating leaves while the bridge spans a gully of tree ferns, Dicksonia antarctica [Section 66,67], with large arching fronds, many of which have been skeletonised by hungry rosellas.

In the centre of this bed is a group of Crowea ‘Festival’ [Section 240] bearing bright pink star flowers on dark red stems. Edging the Crosby Morrison building, Grevillea diminuta [Section 239] dangles its rust-coloured flowers in clusters from the branches of a dense, low spreading shrub. Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 239] is radiant with upright golden flower spikes while Banksia ‘Giant Candles’ [Section 143] is similar but with golden elongated flower spikes. Eucalyptus caesia subsp. magna [Section 239] has arching silver-grey trunk and branches, splendid with oh-so-large deep pink lacy flowers and silver-grey buds.

Crowea ‘Pink Blush’ [Section 240] is a neat, small shrub laden with deep pink buds maturing to pink, almost white, star flowers. Continuing uphill below the arching branches of a brittle gum, Eucalyptus mannifera [Section 10], Thryptomene saxicola ‘Pink Lace’ [Section 10] has long, low arching branches densely covered with pink buds and tiny pink open flowers.

Along this path is a grove of wattles Acacia podalyriifolia [Section 206], Queensland Silver Wattle, small trees with green-grey foliage complemented with soft golden flower balls. Persoonia chamaepeuce [Section 23] is a prostrate spreading plant, not in flower but spectacular with deep red new growth. Hakea cristata [Section 23] is an open, medium sized shrub with small clusters of white flowers and light green, toothed leaves along the branches. Hakea sericea [Section 21] is of medium size with bare crooked trunks, short needle foliage and soft pink lacy flowers amid a profusion of almond-size grey fruits. Hakea bakeriana [Section 21] is neat and rounded with long needle leaves behind which are large pink and cream flowers clustered around the branches and also on the old wood. Notice, too, the much larger, rounded fruits. Hakea purpurea [Section 20] is slim and upright, with divided needle-like leaves and deep red buds and flowers along the branches.

Across the path, another wattle, Acacia terminalis [Section 3] is a small, open tree with dark green fern-like leaves brightened with cream flower balls. Time now to stroll towards the Nursery to view a tea-tree, Leptospermum squarrosum [Section 44], an erect shrub which displays its clusters of bright pink ‘apple blossom’ flowers under the foliage. Take your time and linger where magpies aim to outcall the ravens and the tiny blue fairy wrens and scrub wrens continue to find their delectables in the leaf litter.

Great place … Barbara Daly.