In Flower This Week

20 June 2003

On this sunny day the walk will identify some of the winter wonders of the Rock Garden. Start at the base of the waterfall and follow the path in a clockwise direction. Dampiera linearis [Section 15D] displays blue flowers on its erect branches. Nearby Dampiera salahae [Section 15D] is somewhat similar; behind it Hypocalymma sp. [Section 15D] is small and covered with pink cup-shaped flowers. On the other side of Correa ‘Ivory Bells’ [Section 15D], a large dense shrub with ivory-coloured tubular flowers blending with the silver-backed leaves, Banksia spinulosa ‘Honeypots’ [Section 15D] displays its honey-coloured cylindrical flower spikes which rise from the low lateral branches of this dwarf plant. Grevillea brachystylis [Section 15D] is a slim upright shrub with orange-red flowers pendent from its branches.

Alyogyne huegelii ‘West Coast Gem’ [Section 15F, 15W] displays its large purple hibiscus-like flowers over the tall shrub while Grevillea lanigera [Section 15W], with pink and white spider flowers, tumbles down the slope. Edging the steps, the large spreading shrub of Grevillea ‘Masons Hybrid’ [Section 15H], with terminal pink and cream conical flower spikes, has a Wonga Wonga Vine, Pandorea pandorana [Section 15H], decorated with clusters of cream tubular flowers with dark striated throats, climbing through the shrub.

Edging the top road, Acacia conferta [Section 3] is a neat rounded shrub bright with yellow globular fluffy flowers. Dampiera sylvestris [Section 15H] is a dense suckering herb clad with bright blue flowers. At the end of this section Cryptandra sp. [Section 15H] is a dwarf plant covered with white flowers while, at the end of the next section, Baeckea crassifolia [Section 15J] is also a dwarf plant covered with tiny pink flowers.

Chorizema cordatum - click for larger image

Leptosema aphyllum [Section 15N] has long upright flattened stems with a few red pea flowers. Although being touched by frost Scaevola ‘New Blue’ [Section 15N], edging the path, continues to bear blue fan flowers. Eremophila oldfieldii subsp. angustifolia [Section 15N] bears red flowers on upright stems. Eremophila nivea [Section 15N] is a neat rounded shrub with soft mauve bugle flowers amid the almost white foliage.

Walking along the lower path with the large Yellow-tailed Black Cockatoos flying overhead, the many small plants include Diplopeltis huegelii var. subintegra [Section 15N] a small shrub with loosely arranged dark-centred pink flowers along the upright branches. Eremophila punicea [Section 15N] is a low spreading woolly greenish-grey shrub which almost conceals its fine light green curved tubular flowers. A scattering of Hybanthus floribundus subsp. adpressus [Section 15N] has pale blue flowers over the small shrubs. Below the attractive grass trees, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii [Section 15N], Chorizema cordatum [Section15N] has long slender branches with orange-red pea-shaped flowers. The tiny scrub wrens will share the path to this next section.

Isopogon cuneatus [Section 15P] is a shrub of medium size exhibiting large terminal pinkish-mauve flower heads while Hakea corymbosa [Section 15P], so dense with short sharp leaves, is crowded with buds almost exploding to pale greenish yellow flowers.

 Such winter wonders …                                  Barbara Daly.