In Flower This Week

14 November 2003

The obvious purple hibiscus flowers of Alyogyne ‘Westcoast Gem’ [Section 210] could not be missed.  However not to be missed is Kennedia macrophylla [Section 172], a climber with clusters of rust-red pea flowers.  Here it climbs around Philotheca myoporoides subsp. acuta [Section 172], a medium size woody plant crowned with white star flowers.These are seen along Banks Walk.

This walk, however, is about the Sydney Region Gully. Take the walk edged by mint bushes which include Prostanthera sieberi [Section 6], Prostanthera rugosa [Section 6] and Prostanthera hirtula sp. aff. [Section 6], all with their individual shades of purple flowers.  A bottlebrush, Callistemon pallidus ‘Austraflora Candle Glow’ [Section 30] is well covered with prominent lemon flowers.  Hakea tephrosperma [Section 25] is an attractive small tree well decorated with long fine leaves and clusters of fragrant lacy flowers crowded along the terminal branches. A Waratah, Telopea ‘Braidwood Brilliant’ [Section 112] reveals its brilliant red flowers on upright branches; and Grevillea pilosa [Section 112] is a low spreading shrub with interesting hairy, dusky pink spider flowers mingling with the small sharp holly-like leaves.

Taking the narrow path on the far side of the Sydney Region gully, Epacris longiflora [Section 191f and elsewhere] with low wiry branches, has narrow tubular flowers coloured red with a white mouth.  Boronia pinnata [Section 191f] is a small compact shrub dense with soft pink star flowers.  Acacia bulgaensis [Section 191k] is a magnificent wattle, tall and completely covered with rods of yellow flower balls.  Conospermum tenuifolium [Section 191f] is massed with fine curling foliage and has tiny bluish flowers on upright stems. Hibbertia dentata [Section 191k] is a vine with cheery yellow flowers, which mainly twines about the leaf litter and Hibbertia aspera [Section 191f], a mounding entanglement of branches with tiny yellow flowers. The Native Rose, Boronia serrulata [Section 191f] is a small shrub, stunning with rich pink cup-shaped flowers.  The seat is almost encircled with the suckering Dampiera sp. [Section 191f] showing off its deep blue flowers.

Leptospermum macrocarpum - click for larger image

Take time to sit and enjoy the chattering of the Crimson Rosellas in the trees above or hear them splashing in the stream covered with the large fronds of Dicksonia antarctica. 

Telopea speciosissima x mongaensis [Section 191k] is one of numerous waratahs which highlight the bushland setting with their glowing flower heads.  At its base Bauera rubioides [Section 191f] is a group of shrubs pink with downturned flowers.  At the road junction view the lovely Leptospermum macrocarpum [Section 191s].  Although rather woody the large flowers are pink with large green, nectar-filled centres… really lovely.

After visiting the Display Glasshouse, return to view Ricinocarpos pinifolius [Section 191k] with snowy star flowers over an upright shrub.  Calothamnus quadrifidus [Section 193] has flaming red-frilled flowers clustered around the stems complemented with soft grayish pine like foliage.  The NSW Waratah, Telopea speciosissima [Section 191k] is a beauty with its ovoid shaped red flower heads.

Just come and see the beauty of them all…                                             Barbara  Daly.