In Flower this Week

On this enjoyable walk many flowers can be observed but only a selection will be mentioned.

So, the pots outside the Visitors Centre doors have the colourful Lechenaultia formosa with orange-red flowers in a small mound and Scaevola phlebopetala with deep purple yellow-centred fan-flowers on long overhanging stems. Close by, also in a pot, Acacia mollifolia continues to produce spikes of soft yellow flower balls atop a long bare trunk. Edging Banks Walk, the yellow flowers of the semi-prostrate Hibbertia vestata [Section 210] between the prostrate Scaevola ‘New Blue' [Section 210,174] with its blue fan flowers is a picture.

The Ellis Rowan Garden edging the Café building features plants available at local nurseries. It is bright with the colourful terminal flower clusters of Grevillea rhyolitica, sold locally as Grevillea ‘Deua Flame' [Section 131], with Brachyscome ‘Breakoday' [Section 131] edging the path at its base and the mass of white tipped pale pink tubular flowers of Epacris ‘Nectar Pink' [Section 131] close by. On the opposite side of the ‘Friends' entrance Epacris ‘Portland Red' [Section 131] has tiny tubular reddish flower while opposite, the large shrubs, Callistemon ‘Splendens' [Section 240] bear fiery red bottlbrush flowers.

Take the road to the left past the building where Banksia spinulosa [Section 131] is showing its yet juvenile slim dull gold tubular flower spikes. Ptilotus divaricatus [Section 127] is a dwarf spreading plant with interesting small open cream rounded flower spikes on the long stems. Continuing uphill, compare Correa ‘Wins Wonder' [Section 119], a dwarf open shrub with pink tubular flowers pendent from the lateral branches with Correa ‘Pink Lips' [Section 119], a small but taller shrub with slimmer flowers also coloured pink but with green mouth and long protruding styles. Across the road and better seen from the path parallel to the road, are emu bushes, Eremophila polyclada [Section 302] is an upright, rather skeletalised shrub, pretty with white bugle flowers. Eremophila maculata subsp. brevifolia [Section 302] is small and dense and well covered with scarlet tubular flowers.

Continuing uphill, turning left where Correa alba var. alba [Section 107] is dense with silver edged leaves and white tubeless star-flowers. Edging the Brittle Gum Lawn are Grevillea ‘Robyn Gordon' [Section 110] showing off its terminal soft red flower sprays and Hibiscus pedunculata [Section 110] with pink saucer-shaped flowers on the upright shrub.

Continue up on the road edging the Rainforest Gully. Admire the interesting White Myrtle , Ehretia acuminata [Section 114] with long bare upright trunk and pendulous sprays of orange fruits from the foliage above. Then, in the triangular garden a Geraldton Wax , Chamelaucium ‘Cascade Brook' [Section 17] is floriferous with mauve open waxy flowers. Just past the group of Crowea ‘Festival' [Section 123] shrubs dotted with bright pink star flowers, see Eucryphia wilkiei [Section 123] so showy with cream saucer shaped flowers.

Such a variety of Australian flowers …

Barbara Daly.