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

This autumn weather is ideal for a stroll along the Main Path where, in particular, banksias and bottlebrushes are flowering. Starting at the far end of the Cafe building, flowers will be selected. But first, in the pots outside the Visitor Centre, see the rich red trumpet flowers of Australia's only rhododendron, Rhododendron lochiae.

Callistemon chisholmii [Section 11] looks graceful with arching branches of small white bottlebrush flowers. These flowers have faded from a pale pink, some of which can still be seen. On a side path, Callistemon citrinus [Section 9] is a large rounded shrub dense with red flowers. Brachycome ‘Misty Mauve’ [Section 303] has yellow-centred mauve daisies on short stems over a low rounded plant. Kangaroo paws are almost finished flowering but Anigozanthos ‘Bush Glow’ [Section 8] continues to show off its bright yellow flowers on the long upright stems. The dwarf Banksia spinulosa ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 30] seen close to the path has many upright gold flower spikes on its small plant while Banksia ericifolia [Section 30] is a large rounded shrub alight with rich gold flower spikes. Callistemon ‘Mauve Mist’ [Section 30] displays its pink bottlebrushes and around the corner Callistemon citrinus ‘White Anzac’ [Section 30] proffers delicate white flowers. Few grevilleas are in flower, however Grevillea sp. aff. miqueliana ‘Nullica’ [Section 26] is neat and rounded with soft red pendent flowers amid its velvety foliage.

In the area of the Sydney Region Gully, the woodland section contains Spyridium sp. [Section 191h] a unique shrub for white floral leaves surround its clusters of minute flowers. The coastal heath section, opposite the lookout over the gully, is a very colourful area at present. It contains Scaevola ramosissima var. ramosissima [Section 191p], prostrate plants adorned with bright purple fan flowers, Dampiera stricta [Section 191p], with blue flowers on upright stems, and Epacris impressa [Section 191p], which flaunts hot pink tubular flowers, dense along its long stems. Goodenia decurrens [Section 191p] displays its bright yellow flowers on upright bare stems and, in the centre of the bed, Isotoma axillaris [Section 191p] is a small rounded plant blue with starry flowers.

The display bed is pretty with a few white flannel flowers, Actinotus helianthi ‘Federation Stars’ [Section 191], and the bright pink star-flowers of Crowea saligna [Section 191]. On your way back there is much to view in the Rock Garden, where Chrysocephalum apiculatum [Section 15R], with small clusters of bright orange flowers, edge the path and Hemigenia sp. [Section 15V], with soft pink bugle-like flowers along its stems, creeps between the rocks.

Read about and view the Wollemi Pine, Wollemia nobilis [Section 110] in its olive green cage and then stroll through the cooling green Rainforest where, near a seat, Syzygium australe [Section 148] is adorned with white fluffy flowers. The bright plum-coloured fruits can be seen on a smaller plant [Section 210] edging the ascending stairs.

Such exciting flowers...

Barbara Daly.