Australian National Botanic Gardens
|
A weekly news sheet prepared by a Gardens' volunteer.
Numbers in square brackets [] refer to garden bed Sections.
Plants in flower are in bold type.
14 April 2006
Pelargonium rodneyanum - click for larger image |
This walk is around and about the Rock Garden to see the last of the summer flowers. On the way to this area see the many colourful beauties including a small Eucalyptus ‘Summer Red’ [Section 174], still blooming along Banks’ Walk. In a clockwise direction ascending the stairs and edging the path, Banksia integrifolia var. integrifolia [Section 15C] is a prostrate plant dense with silver backed leaves and many upright cylindrical lemon flower spikes. Banksia ‘Honeypots’ [Section 15D] is a dwarf shrub with honey coloured flower spikes, almost concealed by a large shrub. Scaevola oxyclona [Section 15D] has small pink fan shaped flowers mixing with the spiky leaves of this small plant. Chrysocephalum apiculatum [Section 15D] is quite showy with its many button size orange-yellow flower clusters while Lechenaultia biloba [Section 15D] is more subdued with its powder blue flowers. Another small shrub, Pityrodia teckiana [Section 15D], has soft pink-white bugle shaped flowers, while across the stream Pelargonium rodneyanum [Section 15Q] is a colourful groundcover displaying its magenta geranium-like flowers.
Eucalyptus lansdowneana - click for larger image |
Eremophila warnesii [Section 15F] is a strange looking shrub with thick branches half densely covered with hairy leaves and purple bugle flowers. In front is Solanum sturtianum [Section 15G] an upright plant with deep purple open flowers. Grevillea lanigera [Section 15H] is a prostrate plant well covered with pink spider flowers covering this slope while a high backdrop of lemon flowers is that of Acacia subulata [Section 3]. Ascending the stairs, Plectranthus argentatus [Section 15A] is a suckering herb with velvety leaves and long spikes of tiny bluish flowers. The large ageing Grevillea ‘Masons Hybrid’ [Section 15H] with long lateral branches produces large and lovely terminal flower spikes with long red stamens. This grevillea has also been known as Grevillea ‘Ned Kelly’.
Edging the top road a Geebung, Persoonia linearis x pinifolia [15H] is a large spreading shrub with limbs clad with pine-like foliage and tipped with small yellow flower spikes. Dampiera diversifolia [Section 15H] has deep blue flowers over this small ground cover while Dampiera sylvestris [Section 15H], nearby, is a suckering plant with blue flowers a shade lighter, on upright stems. Beside these, Scaevola albida var. albida [Section 15H] has white fan flowers in profusion.
Turning down between the Grass trees, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii [Section 15J] then turning left, near the seat Isotoma axillaris [Section 15H] is a perennial herb bright with blue star flowers. Kunzea pulchella [Section 15R] is of medium size dotted with bright red flower spikes. Returning and close to the sundial, view Glischrocaryon behrii [Section 15R], and upright shrub crowned with orange-yellow flowers. Around the corner an Emu Bush, Eremophila christopheri [Section 15R] has arching stems of mauve tubular flowers. In the centre of this section Eucalyptus lansdowneana [Section 15R] is a slender, spreading tree complete with many buds and, on the very top, fluffy red flowers.
A great section to enjoy this morning, with the background of laughing kookaburras…
Barbara Daly.