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

Today’s walk commences at the bridge with the handsome grass-trees at its entrance and some Asterotrichion discolor [Section 67a], on either side of the bridge, with tiny, dainty, creamy flowers, faintly perfumed. Turn left at the end of the bridge and walk up past the Rainforest Gully with lots of different coloured foliage and bushes of Rubus hillii [Section 125] dotted with red fruit similar to raspberries.

Up the hill to the triangular bed, where the dainty Chamelaucium ‘Cascade Brook’ [Section 17] is covered with pretty mauve flowers and, immediately behind, Rulingia cuneata [Section 17] is a picture with its bright green foliage and tiny yellow flowers. Further along the top of the Rock Garden, Acacia saliciformis [Section 3] flowers only on the lower branches and Acacia covenyi [Section 3], one of the loveliest of wattles, also has golden balls on the lower branches.

Follow the path across the Eucalypt Lawn and turn left at the Nursery. On your left, scattered throughout the bed, are the cheerful yellow paper daisies. On the right is Correa pulchella (variety 2) [Section 100] with orange bell-shaped flowers and, on the same side, Micromyrtus ciliata [Section 100] covered with lots of mauve buds. This bed has a great variety of plants, including Pomaderris brunnea [Section 100], presently covered in little brown buds, and Grevillea stenomera [Section 100], two small plants with their pendulous red, toothbrush-like flowers. On the left is Dampiera lanceolata [Section 100], with stems covered in bright blue flowers, while on the same side, a little way along, are two small bushes of Eremophila oppositifolia [Section 100] with lots of pink, tubular buds opening into cream, five-petalled flowers. On the right is Hakea ceratophylla [Section 100], with spiky leaves and delightful cream flowers, and last on the left, a group of Pimelea ferruginea, [Section 100], with glossy green leaves and pink pom-pom type flowers.

Walk across the small bridge and follow the path to the road, then turn left. Zieria adenophora [Section 150] is a tiny bush with tiny pinkish-white flowers to match its size, while further on Melaleuca thymifolia [Section 91] has flowers only on its lower branches. Eremophila bowmanii var. latifolia [Section 97] an attractive grey-green bush with lavender coloured, tubular flowers. Auranticarpa rhombifolia [Section 96] can be seen from some distance, its bright orange fruit in large clusters at the end of its lower branches.

As you head back downhill, look out for Lomandra laxa [Section 41], a small tussock plant with strappy dull green leaves. Farther along on the edge of the Eucalypt Lawn is Allocasuarina torulosa [Section 40], a large, spreading tree with end of its branches covered in rusty brown male flowers which shimmer in the sunlight.

Enjoy!

Naomi Bell