Australian National Botanic Gardens
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A weekly news sheet prepared by a Gardens' volunteer.
Numbers in square brackets [] refer to garden bed Sections.
Plants in flower are in bold type.
10 September 2004
Eucalyptus sideroxylon
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Our fair city is clad with golden wattles as are these Gardens which glow in all areas, so this walk will include a selection of these colourful plants. In the southern carpark, draping the lower rock wall yellow with soft golden flower balls is the Cootamundra Wattle, a prostrate form of Acacia baileyana [Section 227] whereas the upper wall is draped with the maturing gold of the prostrate cultivars Acacia Gold Lace [Section 226] and Acacia Cascade [Section 226] At the far end of the carpark is Eucalyptus sideroxylon [Section 226], a tree with dark flaky bark and an abundance of cream flowers. Below the Visitors Centre a sloping garden is clad with the pink and cream spider flowers of the prostrate form of Grevillea lanigera Mt. Tamboritha [Section 223]. Ascending the stairs to the Visitors Centre, Zieria formosa [Section 221] is a dense shrub with an abundance of pink buds and tiny pink flowers amid the green-grey foliage. Opposite, a dense climber, Hardenbergia violacea [Section 172 and elsewhere] is showing few of many sprays of purple pea flowers.
Above Banks Walk the slope is covered with the Snowy River Wattle, Acacia boormanii [Section 210] so brilliant with its soft fluffy flower balls. Around the corner and sheltered by the wattle, Hakea Winter Burgundy [Section 210] is upright with its startling flower balls tight around the upper stems. Continuing along the main path Darwinia Mondurup Bell[Section 174] is a small open shrub with its attractive pendent red bell flowers now maturing. Grevillea alpina Warby Ranges form [Section 174] has an upright open habit with limbs blanketed with short leaves and highlighted with orange-red spider flowers. Grevillea Flame n Beauty [Section 174] is now revealing its toothbrush-like flowers coloured cream with long red styles.
Eucalyptus caesia
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Crossing the bridge and in front of the café, Templetonia retusa [Section 224] has large burnt red pea flowers to decorate the upright plant. The Ellis Rowan Garden contains banksias including the dwarf Banksia spinulosa Stumpy Gold [Section 131] with its deep gold flower spike. Epacris longiflora [Section 131] has rows of bright red tubular flowers tipped with white pendent flowers from its wandering stems while Grevillea Deua Flame [Section 131] is resplendent with its showy red flower clusters. Not to be outdone, Epacris Nectar Pink [Section 131] is vivid with stems covered with its pink and white tubular flowers. Each side of the doors to the Friends Lounge, a wattle cultivar, Acacia Scarlet Blaze [Section 131] is yet a medium upright open shrub so stunning with its many scarlet flower balls dotted with yellow now thats a find! Its a unique red flowered form of the usually yellow Acacia leprosa.
The backdrop of wattles across the path are those of Acacia covenyi [Section 240], better viewed from the lower path. Continuing down the path Grevillea diminuta [Section 239] represents a desirable hedge with rust coloured flower clusters pendent from the dense foliage. Opposite, Banksia Giant Candles [Section 143] close to Banks Building, has long golden cylindrical flower spikes. At the entrance to the Crosbie Morrison Building, view the splendid Eucalyptus caesia [Section 239] with their dark flaky trunks and white willowy branches bearing those large yellow centred crimson frilly flowers worth finding
Flowers are bursting out all over
Barbara Daly.