In Flower this Week

Our fair city is colourful with the yellow of falling autumn leaves. The Gardens are colourful with flowers, in particular about the buildings. A pot outside the Information Centre doors contains a mint bush, Prostanthera sp . a small well arranged plant displaying its lovely pink flowers. Along Banks Walk, Banksia ‘Birthday Candles' [Section 172] is a dwarf spreading shrub bearing many golden flower spikes. The pink fluffy flower clusters cap a yet small Eucalyptus ‘Summer Beauty' [Section 174] while, at its base Epacris reclinata [Section 174] has tubular pink-white flowers dropping from its low branches. Woollsia pungens [Section 174] is an upright shrub with small sharp leaves crowding the stems and small white flowers tight about the tips.

From the ramp on the left the tiny Pityrodia teckiana [Section 210] has mauve-white bugle shaped flowers on its spreading branches, and Adenanthos barbiger [Section 210] snug between the rocks, has slim red tubular flowers along the stems. Opposite, Alyogyne ‘Westcoast Gem' [Section 210] is a shrub of medium size with a canopy of purple hibiscus flowers. At its base an emu bush, Eremophila maculata var . maculata [Section 210] is low and spreading with yellow tubular flowers . Prostanthera phylicifolia [Section 210] is densely covered with deep mauve flowers while Prostanthera saxicola [Section 210] of similar size, differs in having deep pink flowers.

Eucalyptus caesia - click for larger image

Returning to Banks Walk, Scaevola ‘New Blue' [Section 210] hugs the ground with blue fan flowers along its stems. Opposite, a Geraldton Wax, Chamelaucium ‘Cascade Jewel' [Section 174] is erect with many buds and pale pink waxy flowers. At the corner, Crowea ‘Festival' [Section 174] seems to be ever flowering with its deep pink star flowers. Crossing the bridge Asterotrichion discolor [Section 66] is tall and slim with hairy leaves and terminal tiny white fragrant flower clusters.

The next area is the Ellis Rowan Garden next to the Café building. Many plants are yet small and have been selected to grow to less than a metre, the soils built up for good drainage. Plants include Crowea ‘Pink Blush' [Section 131] with white, with a dash of pink, star flowers and Banksia ‘Stumpy Gold' [Section 131], a dwarf shrub with dull gold cylindrical flower spikes rising above the green foliage. Grevillea diminuta [Section 131] has rust-coloured flowers pendent from lateral branches with Grevillea ‘Deua Flame' [Section 131] behind, prolific with terminal red flower spikes. Close by is Epacris ‘Nectar Pink' [Section 131] stunning with an abundance of soft pink tubular flowers.

Across the path Crowea ‘Cooper's Hybrid' [Section 240] is well endowed with bright pink star-flowers, while in the small end garden Acacia alata [Section 240] is an interesting shrub with flattened, somewhat zig-zag stems with cream flower balls. Near the Banks Building entrance , Banksia ‘Giant Candles' [Section 310] presents its elongated gold flower spikes over a large shrub while at the entry to the Crosbie Morrison Building the slim Gungurru, Eucalyptus caesia [Section 239] is a sight with brown flaky trunk, silver branches and yet one cluster of large fluffy pink flowers …some specimen!

Short walk, much to see …

Barbara Daly.