In Flower This Week

22 August 2003

The walk is round and about the Rock Garden to view a selection of winter flowers. Start at the base of the waterfall and follow the path in a clockwise direction. Grevillea baueri-lanigera intermediate [Section 15C] is a semi-prostrate shrub with branches of deep pink flowers flowing over the rocks. Cryptandra scortechinii [Section 15C], at the top corner, is a low spreading shrub bearing small white woolly rounded flower heads. Opposite, Grevillea dimorpha [Section 15D] has deep red flowers along the upright stems while, close by, Grevillea brachystylis [Section 15D] is also an upright shrub with bright orange-red slightly pendent flowers along its branches.

The bed of soft pink daisies with large yellow centers is Rhodanthe chlorocephala subsp. rosea [Section 15E, 15R]. Homoranthus darwinioides [Section 15F] is a rounded shrub with grey-blue foliage and unique cream flowers which redden on ageing. Zieria odorifera [Section 15F] is a small compact shrub between the rocks, clad with small pink flowers. At the base of the steps, Lissanthe strigosa [Section 15A] has small cream flowers, in profusion, towards the ends of the upright branches. Phebalium stenophyllum [Section 15A] is bright with clusters of yellow flowers. At the top of the steps, Micromyrtus sessilis [Section 15A] has upright arching branches well clad with deep red buds and small white flowers. Micromyrtus ciliata [Section 15G] is a more compact shrub with similar colouring. Grevillea lanigera [Section 15H], in the opposite corner, is a dense ground cover bearing pink and white spider flowers.

Isopogon cuneatus - click for larger image

Across the road is a section of wattles. Species in flower include the Snowy River Wattle, Acacia boormanii [Section 2], with a slender trunk crowned with soft golden fluffy flower balls and Acacia baileyana var. purpurea [Section 3], the Cootamundra Wattle, a small tree covered in profusion with golden flower balls mixed with bluish foliage. Grevillea lavandulacea [Section 15H] is a semi-upright shrub with grey-blue foliage mixing with the deep red flowers. Olearia astroloba [Section 15H] has mauve daisy-like flowers mixing with the blue-grey foliage of the small upright shrub. Cryptandra lanosiflora [Section 15H] is a well-branched dwarf shrub bearing clusters of small flowers. Also small, Chamelaucium ciliatum [Section 15J] is attractive with a covering of small white flowers. Close by, Baeckea crassifolia [Section 15J] is just as pretty with a covering of pink flowers over the dwarf shrub.

From the path below the grass trees, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii [Section 15N], the pale blue flowers covering small shrubs of Hybanthus floribundus subsp. adpressus [Section 15N] can be seen. Nearby Eremophila punicea [Section 15N] has low spreading woolly greenish-grey foliage which almost conceals the small bright green tubular flowers. Isopogon cuneatus [Section 15P] is radiant with large pinkish terminal flower heads over the medium size shrub and Dampiera salahae [Section 15R] creeps its branches covered with blue flowers amid the soft pink daisies.

Such colourful flowers …                                                        Barbara Daly.