In Flower this Week

Darwinia meeboldii - click for larger image

Before ascending the stairs to the Visitors Centre view the lovely Hakea ‘Burrendong Beauty’ [Section 221] with low branches tightly clad with round crimson flowers with cream styles, resembling pin cushions, reaching over the rock wall. Half way up the stairs is a small upright shrub, Cranbrook Bell, Darwinia meeboldii [Section 221] with branches covered with small leaves and yet only one bell-shaped flower head coloured white and red. Mondurup Bell, Darwinia macrostegia [Section 174], edging Banks’ Walk is a small open shrub endowed with slim tight red buds dangling from the branches like Christmas lights. Close by Epacris reclinata [Section 174] is a dwarf shrub with pink tubular flowers hanging in profusion from its branches. Epacris impressa [Section 174] is quite a spindly shrub, its flowers being cherry red. As a backdrop, Eucalyptus ‘Summer Beauty’ [Section 174] continues to display its large soft pink cluster of flowers on this upright small tree. It has been bearing flowers for at least three months.

Crossing the road over the Rainforest Gully, the pleasant perfume pervading the atmosphere is that of Asterotrichion discolor [Section 305]; a small tree with hairy foliage and small white flowers seen between this road and the bridge to the café.

Acacia fauntleroyi [Section 128] is a medium fine leafed open shrub with ovoid yellow flower heads. Note the reddish peeling curly bark covering the trunk. Nearby is Banksia spinulosa var. collina [Section 128] with many gold upright cylindrical flower spikes dotted with red styles. Grevillea rosmarinifolia ‘Rosy Posy’ [Section 128] is a low dense shrub with pendent buds now opening to pink-cream spider-like flowers. Here, Banksia spinulosa [Section 126] with differing foliage has an abundance of gold flower spikes. Grevillea ‘Poorinda Diadem’ [Section 1126] has many buds opening to ochre coloured spider-like flowers.

Acronychia littoralis - click for larger image

Below the white limbs of the magnificent Brittle gum, Eucalyptus mannifera [Section 10], Thryptomene ‘Pink Lace’ [Section 10] displays its tiny pink flowers in profusion along the low arching branches. Across the road, Correa ‘Pink Mist’ [Section 119] has upright branches from which its pink tubular flowers hang. Correa alba var. alba [Section 107] is a dense spreading shrub with small silver lined leaves almost concealing the white star tubeless flowers. Edging the Brittlegum Lawn banksias include Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 110] with its rich gold flower spikes seen at the end of the long spreading limbs and Banksia ‘Giant Candles’ [Section 107] which displays its elongated gold, almost red, flower spikes. ’Tis the weather for the many tiny Supurb Fairy-wrens seen scratching in the leaf litter and for an occasional Yellow Robin seen perched on a stump or low limb.

Edging the Rainforest Gully, a dense shrub, Acronychia littoralis [Section 104] has glossy leaves and clusters of small lemon flowers. At the entry to the Rainforest Gully, a Lilly Pilly, Acmena smithii [Section 140] is of medium size, dense with glossy leaves and also of clusters of pink fruits, just beginning to fade. Opposite is a dense stand of Crowea ‘Festival’ [Section 123] shrubs bright with pink star flowers. The return walk could be across to the Rock Garden with its many small floral treasures.

Chilly days, colourful flowers…

Barbara Daly.