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

On the far side of the Visitor Centre doors see Lomandra longifolia [Section 224], a dense tufted plant with narrow strappy leaves and terminal clusters of flattened yellow spiky fruits on long stems, often perfumed and always attractive. Rhododendron lochiae, in a pot outside the doors, originates from the tops of the mountains in far north Queensland, and has bright red trumpet flowers among its shiny leaves.

Because of last week’s strong winds this walk will avoid areas that were damaged. In front of the Crosby Morrison building are a scattering of kangaroo paw cultivars which include Anigozanthos ‘Bush Dawn’ [Section 242], with yellow ‘paw’ flowers with a touch of green, and Anigozanthos ‘Bush Noon’ [Section 137], with fiery red ‘paw’ flowers. Closer to the Café building, Banksia integrifolia [Section 240] spreads its limbs along the ground, its sparkling lemon flower spikes appearing above the dense foliage. Crowea exalata ‘Austraflora Green Cape’ [Section 240] is also prostrate, its small pale pink star-like flowers also appear along the lateral branches. Scaevola ‘Mauve Clusters’ [Section 131], another ground cover, reveals its small mauve fan-flowers amid its dense, suckering foliage. Callistemon viminalis [Section 143] is a large shrub with willowy habit and cheery red bottlebrushes scattered among its branches.

Strolling along the rise, Pelargonium australe [Section 7] is a small plant with geranium-like leaves and mauve flowers on upright stems. Correa alba var alba [Section 107] has silver-edged grey-green leaves and white star-like flowers. Callistemon sp. [Section 110] is a neat, open shrub crowned with red bottlebrush flowers. Close by, Callistemon ‘Glasshouse Country’ [Section 110] displays its soft pink bottlebrushes over a denser shrub. Around the corner, a large, dense Banksia aemula [Section 16] has many spent flower spikes with large black fruits and also fresh lemon flower spikes. The rare Wollemi Pine, Wollemia nobilis [Section 110], is secure in its green cage. Read about it at the site.

The Rock Garden has always many flowers, including Lythrum salicaria [Section 15Q] with pink-purple flowers on long upright stems at the foot of the waterfall and, at the top of the steps, Grevillea ‘Masons Hybrid’ [Section 15H] shows off its soft lemon and red terminal flowers.

Along this top road are a few wattles, Acacia parvipinnula [Section 3, 19], small slim trees with dark divided leaves brightened with perfumed cream globular flower balls. Acacia baileyana ‘Purpurea’ [Section 3], though not in flower, has attractive blue foliage with new growth a lovely shade of purple. Acacia fulva [Section 19] is also tall and slim and continues to be covered with large bright yellow flower rods. Returning, walk under the large branches massed with sweet-perfumed cream flower balls of Acacia melanoxylon [Section 4]. This magnificent tree is best seen from the upper path.

Such enjoyable gardens ...

Barbara Daly.