In Flower this Week

Hakea ‘Burrendong Beauty' [Section 221] seen in front of the Visitors Centre, becomes more florific each week. This semi-prostrate spreading shrub displays its pink globular flowers thick along its terminal branches. Then admire other flowers along Banks Walk which includes the lovely Eucalyptus ficifolia ‘Summer Beauty' [Section 174], yet a small tree capped with large clusters of pink flowers and Eucalyptus ficifolia ‘Summer Red' [Section 174] with large clusters of coral shaded flowers. Following the road towards the Café, the perfumed Asterotrichion discolor [Section 66] is tall with hairy leaves and many small clusters of buds now maturing to white daisy-like flowers.

Continue uphill, edging the Rainforest Gully Hibiscus divaricatus [Section 104,114] shows its bright yellow flowers while in the triangle garden , Alyogyne ‘Westcoast Gem' [Section 17] is quite a large shrub crowned with purple hibiscus-like flowers. A Geraldton wax cultivar , Chamelaucium ‘Cascade Brook' [Section 17] is well covered with its wax-like pinkish-white flowers, while Dampiera alata [Section 17] is a dwarf suckering plant with blue flowers . Dampiera salahae [Section 17] is similar with its own shade of blue. There also is a kangaroo paw, Anigozanthos ‘Bush Dawn' [Section 17] which displays its ‘paw-like' yellow-green flowers on long stems.

Hakea coriacea - click for larger image

Before continuing uphill, cross over the Rainforest Gully, taking the narrow path on top of the stairs to view a large planting of rhododendrons. In flower are Rhododendron macgregoriae x lochiae [Section 62] displaying its lovely red bell-like flower clusters with new stems of similar colour . On returning, Crowea ‘Festival' [Section 123] crowded with bright pink star-flowers and Eucryphia wilkiei [Section 123], a neat rounded shrub reveals its lovely white cup-shaped flowers.

Take the path past Banksia oblongifolia [Section 36] with quite green, and lemon flower spikes, to admire Hakea coriacea [Section 36], a tall slim shrub with many trunks, with red cone shaped flowers usually swaying in the breeze. Continue along this path then follow the section edging the lawn to view a wattle, Acacia bleckleri [Section 1] an upright medium shrub bright with gold flower balls. Continue to the road down to view the Pincushion Hakea, Hakea laurina [Section 20], a large well-branched shrub brilliant with balls of pink with cream styles ageing to deep red globular flowers. Across the road, edging the lawn Hakea orthorrhyncha [Section 20] is a fairly low shrub with extended branches covered in profusion with deep red flowers. Hakea drupacea [Section 20] is a tall open shrub with fine sharp foliage and decorated with fragrant white flower clusters. Hakea francisiana [Section 20] is a medium sized shrub with few long lateral branches which reveal its pink cone shaped flowers. Edging the lower road , Hakea cristata [Section 23] is a medium rounded shrub with toothed oval leaves and white with small clusters of flowers – quite stunning! Hakea cycloptera [Section 24], edging the Main Path, is an open shrub with an arrangement of lacey pink flowers along its branches.

Many hakeas of differing floral arrangements have been mentioned.

There are other plants to be admired on this walk …

Barbara Daly.