In Flower This WeekA weekly news-sheet prepared by a Gardens volunteer.Numbers in brackets [ ] refer to garden bed 'Sections'. Plants in flower are in bold type. |
The flowers along Banks Walk are so colourful and there is much colour along the Main Path. So this walk will be in a clockwise direction around the Main Path, starting at the Rainforest where vegetation is so green. Near the seat on the boardwalk, Syzygium australe [Section 148] is a tree of medium size with white fluffy flowers amid the dark green shiny leaves.
Towards the Rock Garden, read about and view the Wollemi Pine, Wollemia nobilis [Section 110], in its olive green cage. At the far end of the Rock Garden, which is being upgraded, the attractive blue colours of the dwarf Dampiera juncea [Section 15R] and Dampiera stricta [Section 15R], a more upright suckering plant, can be compared. Further on, flowering hakeas include Hakea laurina [Section 20], a medium, open shrub with golf-ball size flowers coloured red with cream styles … really attractive.
The path then wanders through the Eucalypt Lawn to the Sydney Region Gully where flowers are more prolific. In the display bed Crowea saligna [Section 191U] continues to bear deep pink star flowers while, opposite, Platysace clelandii [Section 191L], of similar size, bears heads of small white flowers. Goodenia decurrens [Section 191L] is a small herb with yellow flowers on upright stems. A small rounded shrub, Hibbertia saligna [Section 191L], also has bright yellow flowers. Continuing along this path, the flannel flower, Actinotus helianthi ‘Federation Stars’ [Section 191E] is a small erect plant with its velvety white star flowers rising above the furry grey foliage. The garden opposite the look-out area is colourful with the deep purple fan flowers on prostrate stems of Scaevola ramosissima var. ramosissima [Section 191P], the small tubular red flowers along upright stems of Epacris impressa [Section 191P] and Correa reflexa var. speciosa [Section 191P].
Wander among the grevilleas mostly yet to flower. Grevillea pinaster [Section 24] is an open shrub profuse with pendent red flowers. Adenanthos detmoldii [Section 26] is an interesting plant with yellow and orange flowers along the upright stems. Hakea cycloptera [Section 24] is colourful with small lacy pink flowers clinging to the stems of this open shrub. Banksia pilostylis [Section 25], as yet young and small, has dense greyish foliage with upright tapering cylindrical flower spikes coloured lime with brown tips. Banksia spinulosa ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 30] is dwarf and spreading, bright with golden upright flower spikes. Close by, Grevillea petrophylloides var. petrophylloides [Section 30] presents soft pink cylindrical flowers atop upright stems and, opposite, Banksia burdettii [Section 30], sheltering against a rock, is still small but brilliant with its acorn-like flower spike coloured bright orange at the base with paler immature top.
On your way back to the Café, pass by the bed of bright yellow straw daisies [Section 303] and the group of Melaleuca fulgens ‘Hot Pink’ [Section 10], so well named.
Flowers, flowers, beautiful flowers … Barbara Daly.
Return to: | Australian National Botanic Gardens | Search 'In Flower' |
Previous
'In Flower' Weeks |