In Flower This Week

5 July 2002

Banksia spinulosa ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 170] is well alight with many golden cylindrical candles, i.e. flower spikes, upright and glowing. Other banksias, as well as grevilleas and many other plants along this walk, are now in flower. Continuing along Banks Walk, a wattle, Acacia iteaphylla [Section 210], with willow-like branches falling over the rocks, has sprays of pale yellow flower balls while, opposite, Grevillea ‘Flame ‘n’ Beauty’ [Section 174], has powdery green foliage mixed with its delicate pink-yellow flowers with red stamens.

Edging the road along the Rainforest Gully, Grevillea rosmarinifolia ‘Rosy Posy’ [Section 182] are yet small shrubs with cream and red flower clusters dangling from the branches. Grevillea ‘Poorinda Queen’ [Section 124] is a large old shrub revealing its many apricot-coloured spider-like flowers. The Queensland Silver Wattle, Acacia podalyriifolia [Section 126], is a small stately tree with green-grey foliage bright with soft yellow flower balls, while Melaleuca fulgens ‘Hot Pink’ [Section 126] continues to show its bright pink dense flower brushes.

Below the large lateral branches of the lovely Eucalyptus mannifera [Section 10] a small shrub, Thryptomene saxicola ‘Pink Lace’ [Section 10], is pink with tiny flowers covering its dense lateral branches. Opposite, Correa pulchella ‘Pink Mist’ [Section 119] is an upright shrub with pink tubular flowers. In front, Correa reflexa ‘Maroondah Tricolor’ [Section 119] is a low spreading shrub with pendent red, yellow and green, somewhat longer, tubular flowers. Towards the Rock Garden, Emu Bush, Eremophila maculata var. maculata [Section 302] is bright with yellow bugle flowers over the small shrub. Callistemon ‘Glasshouse Country’ [Section 110] is a tall, upright shrub with the upper limbs tipped with rose-pink bottlebrush flowers.

This path through the Rock Garden has many fascinating flowers, including Lechenaultia formosa [Section 15D], a small cushion plant covered with scarlet flowers. Guichenotia macrantha [Section 15F] is of medium size with greyish foliage and down-turned pink-brown cup-shaped flowers. Nearby Alyogyne ‘West Coast Gem’ [Section 15F] is a little larger with hibiscus-like leaves and deep purple open flowers. In front, crowded between the rocks, Zieria odorifera [Section 15F] is a small, dense, neat plant covered with tiny pink and white flowers.

The zigzag path leads to a covered shelter in a setting of many banksias. Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa [Section 37] is quite a large shrub bearing gold flower spikes ribbed with black styles. Banksia plagiocarpa [Section 37] is tall and open with interesting flower spikes coloured a grayish-mauve. Banksia integrifolia var. aquilonia [Section 37] has quite yellow flower spikes while, up the steps, Banksia oblongifolia [Section 37] displays green flower spikes. At the end of this side path sit awhile in front of Hakea verrucosa [Section 37] covered with brilliant scarlet lacey flowers and surrounded by banksias. Listen to the birds calls… all so enjoyable.

Another lovely area of this Gardens …                                          Barbara Daly.