In Flower this Week

Come, see the early autumn flowers along the Main Path.  Just past the Café is Grevillea rhyolitica, sold locally as Grevillea ‘Deua Flame' [Section 131], displaying its orange-red flower clusters pendent from its branches.  Continue along this path where an emu bush, Eremophila christopheri [Section 302] is bright with curved tubular mauve flowers.  An attractive grass, Austrostipa ramosissima [Section 8] has slim silvery-green flower heads in long swaying stems encircled by short leaf blades.  At the other end of this section the Garland Lily, Calostemma purpureum [Section 8] has heads of pinkish tubular flowers atop upright bare stems.  Adenanthos detmoldii [Section 30] is an upright shrub with interesting flowers coloured yellow with a long curved green style.  Banksia ‘Birthday Candles' [Section 30] has so many juvenile cream flower spikes, resembling candles, covering the dwarf spreading shrub while, further along, Banksia penicillata [Section 26] is a large, ageing shrub laden with spent grey flower spikes but also with juvenile pale green, maturing to rust-coloured, flower spikes, a favourite of the rosellas.

Philotheca difformis subsp. smithiana - click for larger image

This pleasant walk now curves through the startling white trunks of Eucalyptus mannifera and others.  Philotheca difformis subsp. smithiana [Section 112] covers its fine branches with small white flowers.  Edging the curvaceous path through the Sydney Flora Region are ground covers which include Scaevola ramosissima [Section 191H], so bright with deep blue fan shaped flowers along its trailing stems, and Goodenia hederacea var. hederacea [Section 191H] with small yellow flowers also along the trailing stems.  Flannel Flowers, Actinotus helianthi ‘Federation Stars' [Section 191H] flowering through the section, have soft white star-flowers amid the velvety grey-green foliage.  A hedge of Cryptandra sp. [Section 191H] has clusters of minute white flowers surrounded by a circle of grey, almost white, leaves, scattered over the green shrubs.  Opposite the 'look-down', the Victoria floral emblem, Pink Heath, Epacris impressa [Section 191P] is seen with slim tubular cherry-coloured flowers gathered along the terminal stems.  Hibbertia pedunculata [Section 191J] is an attractive semi-prostrate plant with its dark foliage brightened with yellow flowers.  A tea-tree, Leptospermum rupicola [Section 191M] is an upright shrub with open white flowers clustered along the stems.  Grevillea acanthifolia subsp. acanthifolia [Section 191M] is a large shrub with long lateral branches well covered with sharp divided leaves and soft pink toothbrush-like flowers.  Opposite, near the circular seat, Christmas Bells, Blandfordia grandiflora [Section 191U] are still with their lovely yellow bell shaped flowers on bare upright stems.  There also are Crowea saligna [Section 191U] shrubs dense with waxy leaves and cheerful pink star-flowers.

Walk through the relaxing Eucalypt Lawns to the Rock Garden where Dampiera stricta [Section 15R] has blue flowers on upright stems and Dampiera calliptera [Section 15R] is a semi-prostrate shrub with its shade of blue flowers.  Eucalyptus extrica [Section 15V] continues to bear cream fluffy flowers over the angulated shrub.  Then a walk through the coolness of the Rainforest Gully and down the ramp where Hemiandra pungens [Section 210] continues to display its pink flowers along the trailing stems.

Pleasant walking, many flowers …                                                      

                                                                                                                                                Barbara Daly