In Flower This Week

1 August 2003

On these icy wintery days a brisk walk along the Main Path is suggested.  Start at the far end of the café building where Acacia alata [Section 240] continues to bear fluffy cream flower balls along its low spreading flat angular stems.  Chamelaucium uncinatum ‘Purple Pride’ [Section 12], a Geraldton Wax cultivar, is a dainty open shrub with deep pink waxy flowers. Astartea ‘Winter Pink’ [Section 10] has tiny pink flowers over the upright shrub while Eremophila maculata subsp. brevifolia [Section 302] is a small open shrub dotted with maroon tubular flowers.

Philotheca verrucosa 'J. Semmens' - click for larger image

Possum Banksias, Banksia baueri [Sections 30,27] still small shrubs, reveal their almost globular apricot centred, greyish woolly flower spikes. Philotheca verrucosa ‘J. Semmens’ [Section 30] has many white double-petalled flowers mixed with the pink buds over the shrub.  Acacia baileyana [Section 30] is a prostrate spreading plant with soft fluffy balls of yellow flowers behind which is a large shrub, Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 30] displaying its golden cylindrical flower spikes. Edging the path, Grevillea lavandulacea ‘Tanunda’ [Section 30] has bright red spider-like flowers which illuminate the greyish-green foliage of the dwarf shrub.  The small shrub, Grevillea floribunda subsp. floribunda [Section 27] is covered in profusion with pendent rust-coloured flower clusters.  Many grevilleas are in flower along this path.

Crossing the road, Phebalium glandulosum ssp. glandulosum [Section 112] bears clusters of bright yellow feathery flowers.  Following the curving path through the Sydney Region Gully, view in the wall of the look-out, fossils of a seed-fern, Glossopteris [Section 191J] which are quite prominent.  In the garden opposite, Correa reflexa var. speciosa [Section 191P] is a low spreading shrub with red and yellow tubular flowers.  Continuing, Zieria compacta [Section 191G] is a small upright shrub covered with tiny pink flowers.  Hibbertia saligna [Section 191L] brightens its small shrub with vivid yellow open flowers. At the corner, a vine, Hardenbergia violacea [Section 191L] with purple pea-flowers, wanders over other shrubs.  Opposite, an upright open shrub, Dillwynia ramosissima [Section 191L] bears yellow pea-shaped flowers and Epacris sp. aff. impressa  [Section 191L] covers its dwarf shrub with narrow red tubular flowers.

Crossing the pleasant Eucalyptus Lawn to the wattles we see Acacia consobrina [Section 18] covered with yellow flower balls over the low spreading shrubs.  Hakea recurva [Section 20] is a dense shrub of medium size with long fine sharply pointed leaves and dense clusters of cream lacey flowers.  Nearby Hakea corymbosa [Section 20] has large clusters of sharp pointed leaves shared with their lime green flowers.  The Rock Garden has many flowers to admire.  Chorizema cordatum/varium intermediate [Section 15S] displays its catching multi-red pea flowers and Guichenotia ledifolia [Section 4] is a dwarf shrub clad with pale pink down-turned flowers.

Wander through the wonderous Rainforest Gully, so green, so peaceful and down the ramp where Eremophila maculata [Section 210] is bright with yellow bugle flowers. Cold day, many flowers …                                                                           Barbara Daly.