In Flower this Week

The Main Walk meanders through differing sections of the Gardens and this walk will mention some of the many flowering plants, commencing at the far end of the Café building.

Leptospermum squarrosum [Section 12] has covered its old wood with open pink flowers atop of an erect shrub. An emu bush, Eremophila nivea [Section 302] is an attractive shrub with grey foliage dotted with soft mauve bugle-shaped flowers. Pass by the garden of yellow straw flowers, Xerochrysum bracteata [Section 303] to Banksia baueri [Section 30] displaying its cuddly fluffy greyish flower spikes seen low in the centre of the shrub. Another banksia, Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 30] is large and spreading illuminated with rich gold flower spikes while Banksia ‘Birthday Candles' [Section 30] is a spreading dwarf shrub bearing many upright gold flower spikes.

Grevillea humifusa [Section 24] has salmon coloured short toothbrush-like flowers on the trailing branches while behind, Isopogon cuneatus [Section 24] is a small multi-stemmed upright shrub bearing open mauve many-petalled flowers encircled by its foliage.

Crossing the road Hakea cycloptera [Section 24] is an upright shrub with lacey pink flowers mixing with the sharp leaves. Grevillea paniculata [Section 26] is a medium sized showy shrub covered in profusion with fragrant white lacey flowers.

Syzygium australe - click for larger image

Crossing the road, Correa ‘Marians Marvel' [Section 112] is low, dense and spreading, bearing many pendent bell-like pale pink and lime coloured flowers. Now enter the recently opened Sydney Flora Region, home of 625 plant species, with new interpretative signs about this section. Be welcomed by Flannel Flowers, Actinotus helianthi ‘Federation Stars' [Section 191H] with dense velvety grey-green foliage and flannel-like large daisy-like flowers and Scaevola ramosissima [Section 191H] a prostrate trailing plant with deep blue fan-shaped flowers. Scattered by the path is Actinotus forsythia [Section 191H] vivid green foliage with long stems of small pink-centred flannel flowers. Epacris longiflora [Section 191S] is a small dense plant bearing many pendent tubular flowers along the stems. Towards the exit of this area, Sprengelia monticola [Section191U] is a dwarf saucer-shaped plant mounted with lovely white star-like flowers. Behind is Crowea saligna [Section 191U] beautiful with wax-like pink star-flowers.

Walk across the Eucalypt Lawns, through the area of wattles, not yet in flower, down to a group of hakeas which includes Hakea obtusa [Section 20] a medium size rounded shrub concealing its lovely pink and cream flowers which cling to the old wood behind the green foliage, and Pincushion Hakea, Hakea laurina [Section 20] which exposes its golf ball sized, now mostly deep red, flowers over a larger shrub. The Rock Garden is a haven of flowering plant and from the path Guichenota ledifolia [Section 4] is small and dense with an abundance of down-turned cup-shaped mauve flowers. Dampiera linearis [Section 15D] snug between the rocks, is florific with blue flowers. Into the Rainforest, so green and cool. A brush cherry, Syzygium australe [Section148], a small tree with shiny green foliage, bears white fluffy flowers, best seen up high. So, down the ramp with more floral variety including, at the exit Pityrodia teckiana [Section 210] a dwarf plant showing off its pretty pink-mauve bugle-shaped flowers.

Pleasant walking – many flowers …

Barbara Daly.