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

Flowering plants along Banks Walk include the compact Crowea saligna [Section 174] dotted with glowing pink waxy flowers. Opposite, a kangaroo paw, Anigozanthos ‘Bush Sunset' [Section 210] has copper-red flowers. In front of the cafe the dwarf banksia, Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 244] is illuminated with young upright cylindrical pale gold flower spikes, just developing a mature golden colour. Bracteantha bracteata ‘Diamond Head’ [Section 131] is small and compact with bright yellow straw daisies on upright stems. Opposite Callistemon citrinus ‘Splendens’ [Section 240] is really splendid with its colourful display of red bottlebrush flowers. At the end of this garden, the dwarf Crowea exalata ‘Austraflora Green Cape’ [Section 240] is endowed with soft pink star-like flowers.

This walk will now lead to an area including many banksias. Grevillea diminuta [Section 178] has rust coloured flowers in pendulous clusters over this open shrub. Banksia ‘Giant Candles’ [Section 143] is quite dense containing elongated flower spikes dull gold yet to mature to brighter tones. Beside is a large, old Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 143] containing rich golden flower spikes among its many green immature flower spikes. The small wombat continues to sleep at the base of this shrub.

Along this road, Callistemon citrinus ‘Austraflora Firebrand’ [Section 32] has low sweeping branches drenched with quite long crimson bottlebrushes. Down the slope, Banksia aemula [Section 32] is a neat young shrub with lemon flower spikes. Further on another Banksia aemula [Section 32] is a large old shrub with spikes of all ages, from immature green to ageing honey-coloured spikes and to many old grey spikes with charcoal fruits embedded. ... note the varying shapes and sizes of these banksias.

At this corner, Banksia ericifolia x Banksia spinulosa [Section 28] is another large ageing shrub laden with chocolate-coloured spent flower spikes among which are long, slim juvenile flower spikes with a silvery white hue which will mature to gold. Banksia conferta var. conferta [Section 28] is a tall slim shrub with dull foliage and green-lemon flower spikes with a tint of brown. So picturesque is Callistemon sp. [Section 33] clad with lovely pink flowers dotted with yellow stamens. The tall palm-like herb with long flowing leaves is Gahnia grandis [Section 33]. The black spent flower spikes are quite attractive and are useful for floral decoration. Another bottlebrush, Callistemon sp. [Section 33] with branches heavy with red flowers sprinkled with yellow ... such colour! Almost opposite a Braidwood Waratah, Telopea mongaensis [Section 28], is eyecatching because of its one open red flower.

And all the time the magpies chortle and the nectar-loving birds, which include the smaller New Holland Honeyeaters and Eastern Spinebills, are also enjoying the banksia flowers and the colourful rosellas rest on the branches above, not forgetting the family of choughs who scratch about the litter for a tasty morsel.

And still more banksias ...

Barbara Daly.