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.

21 December 2001

This is a stroll along the Main Path, so start by heading along Banks Walk, where Scaevola ‘New Blue’ [Section 174] is dense with deep blue flowers. A similar deep blue can be seen near the bridge where the ACT Floral Emblem, the Royal Bluebell Wahlenbergia gloriosa [Section 60], is in flower. At the end of the Café building, Geraldton Wax cultivar Chamelaucium uncinatum ‘Purple Pride’ [Section12] continues to produce bright magenta flowers. Callistemon ‘Apricot Pink’ [Section 11] is graceful with small pink bottlebrush flowers and Melaleuca fulgens ‘Hot Pink’ [Section 11] really does produce hot pink bottlebrushes.

The bed of daisies is colourful with the self-seeding yellow straw daisy Bracteantha bracteata [Section 303]. Kangaroo paw cultivars are of many colours, Anigozanthos ‘Pink Joey’ [Section 8] is an odd shade of pink on short stems while the taller Anigozanthos ‘Bush Glow’ [Section 8] has yellow flowers on long stems. Wander through an area of grevilleas where Grevillea wilsonii [Section 26] is yet a small shrub with a brilliant red floral cluster above the sharp divided foliage and, edging the path, Grevillea ‘Poorinda Adorning’ [Section 24] is prostrate and bright with red-orange flowers.

Entering the Sydney Region Flora section, Scaevola ramosissima var. ramosissima [Section 191h] is prostrate with mauve fan flowers along its trailing stems. Trigger plants, Stylidium graminifolium [Section 191h], with pale pink flowers on long upright stems can be seen edging the path. At the lookout, Pomaderris cinearia [Section 191s] is a small shrub clad with clusters of yellow flowers while Hibbertia scandens [Section 191s], with large yellow flowers, flows down to the stream where Crimson Rosellas are splashing in the cool water. The area opposite the lookout is colourful with the blue of Dampiera stricta [Section 191p], the white daisies of Helichrysum adenophorum [Section 191p] and the yellow flowers of Goodenia decurrens [Section 191p].

The Gymea Lily, Doryanthes excelsa [Section 191m], stands tall with a large cluster of red flowers on the top of an immense flower spike. At its base Boronia microphylla [Section 191m] has an abundance of small pink flowers. Christmas Bells, Blandfordia grandiflora [Section 191], with splendid red and yellow bell-like flowers on upright stems make a delightful picture with Actinotus helianthi ‘Federation Stars’ [Section 191u] with their velvety grey foliage and soft white flowers.

Cross the pleasant Eucalypt Lawn to the Rock Garden where an abundance of flowers can be found. At the edge is a bed of soft pink daisies of Rhodanthe anthemoides subsp. rosea [Section15R]. Below the waterfall a small garden includes Hemigenia sp. [Section 15V], displaying a carpet of pink bugle flowers, and Ptilotus manglesii [Section 15V], with pink and silver fluffy flower heads. In front the tall trees of Grevillea robusta [Sections 105,79] are brilliant with large golden toothbrush-like flowers ... such lovely Christmas trees they are ... Then a wander through the cool Rainforest.

Season's Greeting to all ... Barbara Daly.