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

The flower of the week must surely be Hakea crassinervia (Syn. Hakea ‘Burrendong Beauty’) [Section 221] seen below the windows of the Visitor Centre. The deep pink globular flower clusters are dense along the lateral stems ... a real beauty. These autumn days with cooling breezes are ideal for a long stroll with always another flower to see. Scaevola aemula, seen in the pots outside the Visitor Centre doors, has bright blue fan-shaped flowers. Crowea saligna [Section 174] shines with bright pink star flowers over the neat shrub and Goodenia affinis [Section 174] is so small with bright yellow flowers above its greyish woolly leaves.

Grevillea ‘Poorinda Queen’ [Section 124], one of numerous grevilleas along this road, has ochre-coloured spider flowers on its long lateral branches. Opposite, Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa [Section 126] has many flower spikes which are maturing to gold, ribbed with red styles. Grevillea ‘Robyn Gordon’ [Section 124] displays, on its terminal branches, colourful red and cream flower clusters. This plant is seen on the narrow path off the main road along which Correa pulchella ‘Pink Mist’ [Section 119] is seen with soft pink tubular flowers over a small upright shrub. Eremophila maculata subsp. maculata [Section 302] dangles its yellow trumpet flowers from the neat, open shrub. Uphill, towards the Rock Garden, Bursaria spinosa var. spinosa [Section 4] is a tall slim shrub clad with a shower of small white flowers amid the many thorns.

Along this path, Calothamnus gilesii [Section 5] is still a small shrub with long fine leaves and bright red flower bundles on one side of the upright branches. The White Cedar, Melia azedarach [Section 23], a deciduous tree, is attractive with its autumn covering of yellowing leaves. Persoonia linearis [Section 23], the Narrow-leaved Geebung, is an open medium shrub with dark flaky bark and arching branches decorated with fine soft leaves and small fine yellow tubular flowers.

Opposite, Grevillea stenomera [Section 21] is an open shrub of medium size with pink and cream flowers. In this section, mostly of hakeas, find Hakea suaveolens [Section 20], a rather tall shrub with fine divided leaves and crowned with white, with a tint of pink, ovoid clusters of flowers. Nearby is the Sea Urchin Hakea, Hakea petiolaris [Section 20], a tall slim shrub presenting many pink and cream globular flower clusters attached to its trunk and branches. Hakea laurina [Section 20] is similar with narrower leaves and bright red globular flowers.

Crossing the road, Acacia ulicifolia [Section 18] is a medium, rounded shrub dotted with cream fluffy flower balls. Walk along this bed adjoining the Eucalypt Lawn, where the resident family of big black Choughs may be aerating the lawns looking for tasty morsels. See another wattle, Acacia beckleri [Section 2], erect and open with large fragrant lemon flower balls along the stems – quite interesting. Return via the Rock Garden with flowers galore.

There’s always another beauty to admire ...

Barbara Daly.