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.

14 December 2001

Down by the ponds the Gippsland Water Dragons, Physignathus lesuerii subsp. howittii, can be seen scampering about or basking on the rocks. Along Banks Walk there is a splendid display of flannel flowers, Actinotus helianthi ‘Federation Stars’ [Section 172], with large velvety white flowers set off by the grey-green foliage. Kangaroo paw cultivars include Anigozanthos ‘Bush Sunset’ [Section 210] with deep red flowers on long stems. In front of the Café building Melaleuca ‘Sea Foam’ [Section 131] is covered with frothy white flowers.

Callistemon citrinus [Section 10], bright with crimson bottlebrush flowers, is one of many bottlebrushes now in flower throughout the Gardens. Green Kangaroo Paw, Anigozanthos flavidus [Section 127], with matt green flowers on long upright stems, is a favourite for nectar loving birds. Nearing the Rock Garden, the bed of pale pink daisies is Rhodanthe anthemoides subsp. rosea [Section 4]. Towards the Rainforest Gully there are two tall trees of Grevillea robusta [Sections 16] covered with golden flowers. What great Christmas trees they make!

On the edge of the Rock Garden, Swainsona sp. [Section 4] is upright with a few branches displaying deep burgundy pea flowers while, next to the nursery, Swainsona galegifolia [Section 69] is quite a dense shrub with a covering of mauve flowers. Opposite, a teatree, Leptospermum spectabile [Section 44], has attractive open red flowers.

Cassinia aureonitens [Section 191a] has tall stems capped with heads of small yellow flowers. Small plants close by include a carpet of Austral Bugle, Ajuga australis [Section 191a], with spikes of blue flowers, Thelionema caespitosum [Section 191c] with yellow star flowers and trigger plants, Stylidium graminifolium [Section 191c], with pale pink flowers along upright stems. Dampiera stricta [Section 191c] has a scattering of blue flowers over this suckering plant. All these small plants are set about the mottled white trunks of a scribbly gum, Eucalyptus rossii [Section 191c].

Below a lateral branch of Grevillea asplenifolia [Section 191] with pink toothbrush flowers and long narrow leaves, Goodenia decurrens [Section 191] is a dwarf plant with bright yellow flowers on upright stems. Then, about the circular seat, admire the display of Christmas Bells, Blandfordia grandiflora [Section 191], tufted plants whose long flower spikes carry many large bell-like flowers coloured red with yellow tips. They mingle well with the snowy flannel flowers, Actinotus helianthi ‘Federation Stars’ [Section 191] ... some sight! As a background, the Victorian Christmas Bush, Prostanthera lasianthos [Section 191d], displays its white bugle flowers over a medium size shrub. Looking down the path the Gymea Lily, Doryanthes excelsa [Section 191], is grand with its clusters of red flowers atop elongated stems. Time now to continue along this path through the Sydney Basin to admire many more wonders, enjoy the calls of the family of Choughs and see the Crimson Rosellas bathing in the stream.

Such splendour ... so much to enjoy ... Barbara Daly.