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

This walk is along the Main Path, starting at the far end of the Café building where Acacia alata [Section 240], with low spreading habit, is massed with fluffy cream flower balls along its flat angular stems. Further along the path a group of emu bushes includes Eremophila microtheca [Section 302], presenting soft mauve bugle-like flowers on a heath-like plant, Eremophila maculata [Section 302], a small shrub with larger yellow flowers, and Eremophila strongylophylla [Section 302] with violet flowers. Callistemon citrinus [Section 9] on the side road is large and sparkling with bright red bottlebrush flowers.

Above the daisy bed, kangaroo paw cultivar Anigozanthos ‘Mist Glow’ [Section 8] continues to show off its bright yellow ‘paw’ flowers on long upright stems. Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 30] has a range of long cylindrical golden flowers over this large rounded shrub, while the dwarf Banksia spinulosa ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 30] is so small and laden with upright golden flowers. Banksia integrifolia var. integrifolia [Section 30] is tall and gracefully covered with silver-backed leaves and lemon flower spikes. At its base the prostrate form bears similar flowers but spreads its branches along the ground.

Hakea cycloptera [Section 24], across the road, is an open plant well covered with pink lacy flowers amid its fine needle foliage. Most grevilleas are still heavy in bud, however a few are already flowering. Grevillea paniculata [Section 26], with sharp trilobed leaves, already has branches dense with cream, tipped yellow ovoid flowers. Correa pulchella [Section 112] has many red tubular flowers dangling throughout the dense shrub.

Following the path through the Sydney Region Gully, view, in the top corner, the plantings of Crowea exalata [Section 191h]. They are radiant with an explosion of pink star flowers ... some sight! Opposite the lookout in the Coastal Heath section are Scaevola ramosissima var. ramosissima [Section 191p] a cushion plant decorated with purple fan flowers, Dampiera stricta [Section 191p], Goodenia decurrens [Section 191p], with small yellow flowers on upright stems, and other colourful plants. At the top end, the display bed is bright with the pink waxy flowers of Crowea saligna [Section 191u]. The path then wanders through the Eucalypt Lawn and across the road. Compare Hakea petiolaris [Section 20], with dark globular flowers and light stamens and Hakea laurina [Section 20], with brilliant red flowers and light stamens, on either side of the path. Both flowers resemble sea urchins.

The Rock Garden abounds in exciting flowers including Dampiera diversifolia [Section 15R] with blue flowers along its ground trailing stems … and so many more. Then, in the Rainforest, walk below Antarctic Beech trees, Nothofagus moorei [Section 147, 65] with deep honey coloured leaves, down the ramp where waratah cultivar Telopea ‘Braidwood Brilliant’ [Section 210] reveals its out-of-season red flowers.

Just a few of the many flowers along this path ...

Barbara Daly.