In Flower This Week

14 December 2002

Can't help but admire the large fluffy flowers of Eucalyptus curtisii [Section 221] reaching over the path towards the Visitor Centre. However this walk is around and about the Rock Garden, where a selection of the many plants in flower will be mentioned.

Ptilotus manglesii [Section 15V], in the small garden at the base of the waterfall, is a low herb well covered with soft pink and silver fluffy flowers. Above the waterfall Xanthorrhoea macronema [Section 15D] is a low tufted plant with immature green flower spikes on upright stems. Close by, Eremophila racemosa [Section 15D] is a small shrub, colourful with orange buds and pink flowers while Copper Cups, Pileanthus sp. [Section 15D], has lovely coral-coloured flowers covering the dwarf shrub.

This bank is bright with the blue flowers of Lechenaultia biloba [Section 15G] and the red flowers of Lechenaultia formosa [Section 15G]. Almost opposite, Banksia repens [Section 15F] is a prostrate plant with divided leaves rising from below ground level and a gold-grey flower spike sitting on the path. Edging the steps, Bulbine sp. [Section 15A] has yellow star-like flowers on long upright succulent stems. At the top of the steps, Babingtonia sp. [Section 15A] is a low shrub with arching branches covered with small white flowers. Along the top garden a kangaroo paw, Anigozanthos flavidus [Section 15H], has lovely burnt orange 'paw' flowers on long, upright stems. A patch of white fan flowers, Scaevola albida var. albida [Section 15H], is next to the suckering Dampiera sylvestris [Section 15H] with upright stems of deep blue flowers. Artanema fimbriatum [Section 15J] has pale blue tubular flowers over the dwarf shrub and Scaevola 'New Blue' [Section 15J and 15N] is a prostrate plant with vivid blue fan flowers.

Continuing into the new area past the group of grass trees, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii [Section 15N], Solanum sturtianum[Section 15N] is a small shrub bearing open purple flowers. Rounding the garden to the lower path, Goodenia sp. [Section 15N] is a small prostrate plant bright with yellow flowers. It mingles with the pale blue flowers of Lechenaultia biloba [Section 15N] and the sprays of yellow star-like flowers of the open, upright plant, Anthocercis ilicifolia subsp. caldariola [Section 15N]. Verticordia blepharophylla [Section 15N] has a covering of mauve feathery flowers over the dwarf shrub while Scaevola phlebopetala [Section 15N] is a prostrate plant with yellow-throated, deep violet fan flowers. Swainsona greyana [Section 15N] has long sprays of pink pea-flowers.

Opposite the sundial, crowded between the rocks, Ptilotus drummondii var. drummondii [Section 15R] bears mauve-grey cylindrical fluffy flower heads and Agrostocrinum scabrum [Section 15R] displays fine spiky leaves and lovely bright blue bell-shaped flowers. From the lower road, Dampiera diversifolia [Section 15R] is prostrate, carpeting the slope and dotted with deep blue flowers. Hibbertia pedunculata [Section 15S], bright with yellow flowers, is another prostrate plant. And in the distance the tall tree clad with gold flowers is a Silky Oak, Grevillea robusta [Section 16].

Always other flowers to see… Barbara Daly.