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. |
Wintry days may be grey and chilling, however there is an abundance of brightness in the floral world so below the Visitor Centre windows, Hakea Burrendong Beauty [Section 221] is a low sprawling plant warm with red flower balls with cream styles which resemble pin cushions. Close to the bronze bust of Joseph Banks on Banks Walk, Banksia serrata Birthday Candles [Section 174] is alight with upright gold cylindrical flower spikes ribbed with red styles. Near the centre of the bed, Templetonia retusa [Section 174] has large red pea-flowers on this taller upright shrub while, close by, Grevillea dielsiana [Section 174] displays pendent orange-yellow flower clusters among its fine divided leaves. Crossing the bridge over the many large fronds of the tree ferns, Dicksonia antarctica [Section 66,67], walk below the arching branches of Asterotrichion discolor [Section 66], a small tree with soft furry leaves mingling with terminal sprays of small cream flowers.
Towards the far side of the Crosbie Morrison building, Grevillea diminuta [Section 239] is of medium size, prominent with pendent rust-red flower clusters. Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 239] has an abundance of golden cylindrical flower spikes while, opposite, Banksia Giant Candles [Section 143] is somewhat similar but with longer flower spikes. Hugging the wall Eucalyptus caesia [Section 239], so tall and attractive, has brown scaly trunk, silver-grey arching branches, large buds and old fruits and, up high, a large cluster of red fluffy flowers.
Grevillea Boongala Spinebill [Section 240] is a low sprawling plant, dense with long divided leaves and red toothbrush-like flowers. Crowea Pink Blush [Section 240] bears an abundance of deep red flower buds and pink, almost white, star flowers while Crowea Coopers Hybrid [Section 240], in the background, is a larger, denser shrub, deep pink with its flowers. Acacia alata [Section 240] in the small bed has an abundance of cream fluffy flower balls along its low lateral angular branches.
Following the road, you will pass Calothamnus quadrifidus [Section 12], with soft, pine-like leaves on erect branches and long feathery red flower clusters, and Leptospermum squarrosum [Section 12], of similar size and bearing its soft pink peach-blossom flowers mostly on the lower limbs. Callistemon citrinus Austraflora Firebrand [Section 32] is a medium dense shrub bearing numerous red bottlebrush flowers.
This newer bed contains smaller plants including Thryptomene dielsiana [Section 29] a small shrub with arching lateral branches profuse with small pink flowers. Behind, Calytrix ecalycata [Section 29] has small yellow flowers along its low, upright stems. Hypocalymma sp. [Section 29] is another small open shrub with tiny frilly pink flower clusters along its upright stems while Baeckea crassifolia [Section 29], also small, is pretty with an abundance of tiny mauve flowers.
The upper road offers Grevillea lanigera [Section 28], a small shrub red with spider flowers, and nearby, Banksia spinulosa var. collina [Section 228] is a large shrub, laden with immature yellow flower spikes and few brighter mature flowers.
Always another interesting flower Barbara Daly.
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'In Flower' Weeks |