In Flower this Week

Dampiera stricta - click for larger image

A selection of flowers will be mentioned along this Main Path walk. ‘Tis Senior Citizens’ Week, it is easy walking, no stairs and most pleasant so just come and enjoy plants and bird calls. Edging Banks’ Walk view the yellow open flowers on the prostrate plant of Hibbertia vestita [Section 174] and the bright red flower clusters on a small cultivar, Eucalyptus ‘Summer Sun’ [Section 174]. In front of the Café building Epacris ‘Nectar Pink’ [Section 131] is clad with lovely white mouthed pink tubular flowers along its low wiry branches. Opposite, also with large clusters of red fluffy flowers on a small upright tree, is Eucalyptus ficifolia [Section 240].

Continuing along this marked path, a Teatree, Leptospermum squarrosum [Section 12] is an upright shrub crowned with open pink flowers. Nearby, a Bottlebrush, Callistemon citrinus [Section 11] bears red bottlebrush flowers. Emu Bushes are now revealing flowers of varying colours including Eremophila maculata [Section 302] with yellow bugle shaped flowers on a small shrub. The Garden of daisies is mostly yellow with a variety of straw daisies, Xerochrysum sp. [Section 303].

Many banksias are now flowering in the Gardens. Here, Banksia ericifolia [Section 30] is a large shrub with many upright golden flower spikes. Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 30] is a dwarf dense spreading shrub profuse with smaller golden flower spikes. Grevillea humifusa [Section 25] is a prostrate plant with dark red toothbrush-like flowers along the trailing stems. Before crossing the next road see the stunning Buckinghamia celsissima [Section 27]. The upright shrub with long lobed shiny leaves is revealing its lovely pendulous cream flower spikes, about 20 cm long.

Continue surrounded by many mottled white eucalyptus trees and a chorus of birds including the mostly black Choughs on or close to the ground competing with the Yellow-Tailed Black Cockatoos higher up.

Isotoma axillaris - click for larger image

Follow the winding path through the Sydney Region Gully. At the entrance, the dwarf plants bright with tiny yellow flowers are Goodenia heterophylla subsp. heterophylla – montana [Section 191H]. Flannel Flowers, Actinotus helianthi ‘Federation Stars’ [Section 191H and elsewhere] have greyish velvety foliage and large daisy-like cream flowers. Scaevola aemula [Section 191H] is a dense prostrate plant with a covering of purple fan-shaped flowers. Surrounded by grasses is Dampiera stricta [Section 191P] with blue flowers on upright stems. Behind, still flowering, is a small tree Eucalyptus gummifera [Section 191P] with large clusters of white flowers. At the next junction Banksia spinulosa [Section 191S] has large gold flower spikes ribbed with red stamens, while at the far end Crowea saligna [Section 191U] has cheery pink star flowers.

Cross the Eucalypt Lawn to the Rock Garden where the fine blue star flowers of Isotoma axillaris [Section 15R] and, at a corner, the tiny mauve daisies of Brachyscome rigidula [Section 15S] are some of the many flowering plants in this section.

Pass by the Wollemi Pine Wollemia nobilis [Section 110] in its green cage to the Rainforest Gully, so green, so fresh. Go along the ramp where, up a few steps can be seen the large orange-pink bell shaped flowers of Rhododendron laetum [Section 313] from Cape York area. Time now for a cup of coffee?

Hope the walk was enjoyable… Barbara Daly.