In Flower This Week

2 May 2003

At the bottom of the steps, in front of the Visitor Centre, the lovely hybrid Hakea ‘Burrendong Beauty’ (previously incorrectly identified as Hakea crassinervia) [Section 221] is a semi-prostrate shrub, its sprawling branches covered with pink globular flowers. However this walk will follow the Main Path and commences at the far end of the Café building.

On a side path to your right, Callistemon citrinus [Section 9] is a large shrub bright with red bottlebrush flowers. The dwarf plant Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 30] is alight with upturned cylindrical flower spikes, coloured gold with red styles. Grevillea alpina (Goldfields form) [Section 30] has orange, often single, flowers over a fairly dense shrub. A small Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa [Section 27] has gold flower spikes and the small Possum Banksia Banksia baueri [Section 27] displays its furry greyish flower spikes. Grevillea floribunda [Section 27] daintly dangles its rust-coloured flower clusters from small branches and Grevillea lanigera [Section 25] is very well covered with pink and cream spider-like flowers along its prostrate branches.

Across the road, Hakea cycloptera [Section 24] is of medium size with fine leaves and small lacy pink flowers crowding the terminal branches. Other dwarf shrubs seen here include Grevillea pityophylla [Section 26] with needle-like foliage and soft pink flowers. Behind these, Hakea clavata [Section 26] has narrow, oblong leaves and powder pink flower clusters. Across the road Boronia muelleri ‘Sunset Serenade’ [Section 112] is a neat small shrub, well covered with pale pink four-petalled flowers. Crowea exalata [Section 112] is bright with deep pink five-petalled flowers that cover this taller shrub.

Hakea laurina - click for larger image

Following the winding path through the Sydney Region Gully, Bursaria spinosa var. spinosa [Section 191S], known as the Tasmanian Christmas Bush or Native Blackthorn, is a tall slim shrub shrouded with white flowers. Edging the path, Scaevola ramosissima var. ramosissima [Section 191H] is a dense prostrate plant, vivid with purple fan flowers. Opposite the lookout, Epacris impressa [Section 191P] has long wiry branches with small red or pink tubular flowers. The blue flowers on upright stems are the suckering Dampiera stricta [Section 191P]. The top display bed contains Hibbertia pedunculata [Section 191U], a dense ground cover dotted with bright yellow flowers, and Crowea saligna [Section 191U], laden with waxy pink star flowers. A last Christmas Bell, Blandfordia grandiflora [Section191U], still bears a few large yellow bell-shaped flowers on top of its erect stem.

Cross the Eucalypt Lawn and head down to find Hakea laurina [Section 20], a tall shrub crowned with maroon flower balls. Opposite, Hakea drupacea [Section 20] has small clusters of white lacy flowers. The Rock Garden is home to many colourful plants including Diplopeltis huegelii [Section 15N], with small pink open-petalled flowers on upright stems, and Goodenia sp. [Section 15N], with yellow flowers along the trailing stems. Continue through the relaxing Rainforest Gully and down the ramp past many other flowers.

Such a wonderful garden of Aussie flowers…                                               Barbara Daly