In Flower this Week

Eucalyptus 'Summer Red' - click for larger image

Can’t help but admire the brilliance of Eucalyptus ‘Summer Beauty’ [Section 174] in the garden edging Banks’ Walk. The large clusters of creamy red buds are just exploding into their own shade of red fluffy flowers whilst Eucalyptus ‘Summer Red’ [Section 174] continues to bear some large clusters of red flowers.

However this walk follows the Main Path identifying a selection of autumn flowers, commencing at the far end of the Café building. Leptospermum squarrosum [Section 12] persists in covering its terminal branches with pink peach-blossom flowers while Melaleuca steedmanii [Section 10] shows off its yet few red bottlebrush like flowers on the high tips of its open shrub. An Emu Bush, Eremophila christopheri [Section 302] is bright with swollen tubular mauve flowers over the small shrub. The garden of daisies is mostly yellow including Chrysocephalum apiculatum [Section 303] with small button size flower heads above the green foliage.

Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 30], one of many banksias in flower, is a large spreading shrub bearing many large cyclindrical golden flower spikes. Grevillea dielsiana [Section 30] is upright and open with fine prickly foliage and dangling clusters of orange-red flower clusters. Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 30] is a dwarf spreading plant crowned with many upright golden flower spikes. Nearby Banksia integrifolia var. integrifolia [Section 30] is a prostrate form of the nearby tree, bearing yellow flower spikes along the lateral branches. Grevillea wilkinsonii [Section 25] is dense with pink toothbrush like flowers along its lateral branches while Grevillea humifusa [Section 25, 26] is a prostrate plant with salmon coloured toothbrush flowers mixing with the dark foliage. Buckinghamia celsissima [Section 27, 62] continues to bear its lovely long pendulous cream flower spikes on the upright shrub. Grevillea ripicola [Section 24] is a low dense and spreading shrub dotted with orange-red terminal flower spikes.

Myoporum floribundum - click for larger image

Crossing the road Crowea exalata [Section 112] is a neat rounded shrub sparkling with pink star flowers. A prostrate form is close by. Then, continue to the Sydney Region Gully. Scaevola aemula [Section 191H] has purple fan flowers along the trailing prostrate stems and beside, Goodenia heterophylla subsp. heterophylla-montana [Section 191H] harmonises with yellow flowers. Across the path Bursaria spinosa var. spinosa [Section 191S] seen in the valley, is tall and well covered with clusters of white flowers. Prostanthera porcata [Section 191S] has cream tubular flowers over its small neat shrub while Epacris pulchella [Section 191E] is small and upright with tiny pink flowers edging the stems. Behind the circular seat Crowea saligna [Section 191U] covers the low shrub with lovely pink star flowers.

Crossing the Eucalypt Lawn, view the pincushion hakea, Hakea laurina [Section 20], a large shrub laden with buds now opening to its splendid red pincushion flowers. The Rock Garden is a treasure trove of flowers including Myoporum floribundum [Section 15R] which bears clusters of tiny white flowers on the tops of the lateral branches with the narrow drooping leaves and Thryptomene denticulata [Section 15S] pretty with low lateral branches clad with tiny pink flowers.

Pass by the Wollemi Pine, Wollemia nobilis [Section 110] in its green cage to the Rainforest Gully—so cool and so green—where the Brush Cherry, Syzygium australis [Section 147] sits close to the seats, with dark glossy foliage and small feathery white flowers. The ramp also has colourful flowers to inspect.

Pleasant walking, many flowers… Barbara Daly.