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

The floral display along Banks Walk is spectacular. Hibbertia stellaris [Section 172] is a small shrub clad with lovely orange flowers. Flannel Flowers, Actinotus helianthi ‘Federation Star’ [Section 172, 174], display their velvety white daisy-like flowers. However the beauty of the Gardens goes well beyond this area. Grevillea johnsonii x wilsonii [Section 240] displays its curvaceous, waxy cherry red flowers over a medium size shrub while, across the path, a native iris, Diplarrena latifolia [Section 136], has white flowers with mauve and yellow centres.

But this walk leads to the Sydney Region Flora where flowers are less abundant but bush fragrance is so relaxing. On the way see the splendour of the Wonga Wonga Vine, Pandorea pandorana [Section 127], draped over a eucalypt tree and massed with tubular cream flowers. Walk the avenue of mint bushes, all with their characteristic perfumes. The taller Prostanthera latifolia [Section 4] is so showy with dark purple flowers, contrasting with the varying shades of mauve flowers of Prostanthera stricta [Section 4], Prostanthera melissifolia [Section 4] and Prostanthera ovalifolia [Section 4]. Grevilleas, too, are so colourful, Grevillea biternata [Section 112] is low and spreading and covered with cream perfumed flowers.

At the entrance to the Sydney Region Flora, Boronia muelleri [Section 191] is of medium size, pink with star-like flowers. Along this path Boronia pinnata [Section 191] is a small, open shrub with deep pink starry flowers. The magnificence of the wattle, Acacia bulgaensis [Section 191] clad with rich yellow flower rods amid ash-grey foliage and trunk of patterned stringy bark is superb. Nearby Pultenaea stipularis [Section 191] is yellow with pea flowers. Allocasuarina distyla [Section 191], a she-oak, has ovoid cones and splashes of bright red flowers along the long, pendulous branches. In the gully, the open red flowers of Telopea mongaensis x speciosissima [Section 191], a waratah cultivar, can be seen on the tall upright shrubs. Pass the pink-grey trunk of the tall tree, Angophora costata var. costata [Section 191, and sit awhile opposite Hakea constablei [Section 191] massed with white lacy flowers and quite large fruits. See the crimson rosellas bathing in the water below, hear the many birdcalls and view the variety of shades of green of the plants.

Around the corner at the crossroads, Ricinocarpos pinifolius [Section 191] is a neat, upright shrub bearing stark white flowers. Surrounding this plant is Boronia pinnata [Section 191] brilliant with its bright flowers. Tetratheca thymifolia [Section 191] is pink with downturned flowers on this prostrate shrub and Prostanthera rotundifolia [Section 191] is a picture with its many purple flowers.

Along the crossroads, Eriostemon buxifolius subsp. buxifolius [Section 191] has a halo of pink star flowers. Boronia thujona [Section 191] with pink cup-like flowers blends with Epacris calvertiana var. versicolor [Section 191] with dense clusters of pale pink tubular flowers on terminal branches.

Another perfect area of these gardens … Barbara Daly