In Flower this Week

As the Main Path weaves through a maze of colour this walk will focus on a few eye-catching flowers, commencing at the far end of the Café building. The dwarf plants of Hypocalymma jessicae [Section 12], only named in 2003, are covered with pink feathery flowers . Leptospermum squarrosum [Section 12], an upright, many branched shrub crowds its lovely pink open flowers around the old wood. An emu bush , Eremophila subfloccosa subsp. subfloccosa [Section 302] wraps its branches with grey green foliage allowing small vivid green tubular flowers to peep through.

Possum Banksia, Banksia baueri [Section 30] grows taller and bears large woolly grayish flower spikes with older darker flowers in the center of the plant. Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 30] is a large older shrub rich with gold flower spikes while Banksia ‘Birthday Candles' [Section 30] is a dwarf shrub laden with upright golden flower spikes. Around the corner, off this path, the perfume of Acacia iteaphylla [Section 30] with a covering of perfumed cream fluffy flower balls, pervades the atmosphere. Nearby, Callistemon citrinus ‘White Anzac' [Section 30] is a low spreading plant with few white bottlebrush flowers. Grevillea irrasa subsp. didymochiton [Section 26] has many red spider flowers dangling over the large dense shrub and opposite, Grevillea ripicola [Section 24] is a dense spreading shrub bearing orange-red flowers in terminal clusters.

Grevillea ripicola - click for larger image

Crossing the road Crowea exalata [Section 112] displays its lovely pink star flowers over the shapely shrub. Opposite Correa ‘Marian's Marvel' [Section 112] is a dense shrub bearing many pendent tubular pink and lime flowers. Following the curvaceous path through the Sydney Flora Region, notice boards relate information about the area. Flowers include Bursaria spinosa var. spinosa [Section 191S], in the gully, with dense heads of white fragrant flowers crowning the tall shrubs. Flannel Flowers, Actinotus helianthi ‘Federation Stars' [Section 191H] have soft velvety green-grey foliage and flannel-like large daisy-like flowers. Scaevola ramosissima [Section 191H] has deep blue fan-shaped flowers along its training stems. Prostanthera porcata [Section 191S] has lemon tubular flowers scattered amid the upright shrub while opposite the ‘look-down' the red or pink tubular flowers on long upright stems are those of Epacris impressa [Section 191P]. Crowea saligna [Section 191U] is well covered with waxy pink star flowers while Banksia cunninghamii [Section 191U] has large cream flower spikes ribbed with black styles towards the base of the upright shrub.

After crossing the Eucalypt Lawn pass Hakea suaveolens [Section 20], an upright shrub dotted with small ovoid pink-tipped-cream aromatic flowers and Hakea laurina [Section 20] with the first of its interesting pink and cream pincushion flowers. The Rock Garden includes Dampiera stricta [Section 15R] with blue flowers and, past the waterfall, Dampiera linearis [Section 15D] brilliant with another shade of blue flowers, snug between the rocks.

The Rainforest Gully is splendidly green and peaceful, and so down the ramp with many small beauties to marvel at.

Such a variety of flowers to marvel at...

Barbara Daly