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.

The golden extravaganza of our wattles throughout the Gardens is at its height. But all gold is not necessarily of wattles for, leading to the main gates, the colour of the soft yellow clusters are of Pomaderris intermedia, seen also in Section 225.

The spectacular display of wattles which cascade over the car park retaining walls are the prostrate form of Cootamundra Wattle, Acacia baileyana [Section 227], with golden fluffy flower balls mixed with the blue grey foliage and, over the upper wall, Acacia cultriformis ‘Austraflora Cascade’ [Section 226] and Acacia cardiophylla ‘Gold Lace’ [Section 226]. Australia’s national floral emblem, Golden Wattle, Acacia pycnantha [Section 224], is a small and graceful tree now bursting into lovely firm globular flower balls while, nearby, Correa reflexa var. speciosa [Section 224] has attractive tubular red flowers with lime mouths ... cuckoos too are heralding the spring.

Edging Banks Walk, Prostanthera carrickiana [Section 174] is small and upright with dusky pink bugle flowers. Opposite, the Snowy River Wattle, Acacia boormanii [Section 210], is vivid with soft yellow flowers. Edging the ramp, Grevillea ‘Poorinda Tranquillity’ [Section 210] has delicate pink spider flowers while the bright yellow straw daisies of Bracteantha bracteata [Section 210] which contrast with the greyish foliage are always a pleasure to see.

Entering the Rainforest, Zieria arborescens [Section 148], on both sides of the boardwalk, has a covering of tiny white flowers in clusters against a background of dark green leaves. Also to be seen on both sides of the path is the Yellow Sassafras, Doryphora sassafras [Section 148, 65], a tall, shapely tree with multi-petalled white flowers amid dark elliptical leaves on limbs above the path. Follow the path through the Rainforest to the far side and so down to and across the Brittle Gum Lawn, where Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa [Section 110] displays its upright golden flower spikes. Marvel at the enormous spread of Grevillea aspleniifolia [Section 120] with long narrow leaves and pale pink toothbrush-like flowers. Opposite is Eremophila maculata subsp. maculata [Section 302], a low neat shrub bright with yellow bugle flowers. Opposite the Queensland Bottle Tree, Brachychiton rupestris [Section 302], with its swollen bottle-like trunk, Grevillea sericea [Section 117] has branches heavy with cerise spider flowers. Grevillea ‘Scarlet Sprite’ [Section 119] is revealing the first of its spring showing of scarlet flowers. Thryptomene saxicola ‘Pink Lace’ [Section 10] is pink with small flowers along its low spreading stems.

Time now to marvel at the row of Eucalyptus caesia [Section 229], tall and graceful with large deep pink flowers along their silver-grey stems, beside the Crosbie Morrison Building back door. On the other side of the door, Hardenbergia comptoniana [Section 228] covers a trellis with its deep purple pea-flowers.

Spring flowering has arrived ... Barbara Daly.