In Flower this Week

Hakea cycloptera - click for larger image

Heavy frosts before sunny days many plants heavy in bud awaiting spring but still flowers to admire along Main Path. Start at the end of the Café building, where Acacia alata [Section 240] is an unusual dense shrub with cream flower balls edging the angulated, flattened stems. Leptospermum squarrosum [Section 12] continues to cover its branches with pink peach-blossom flowers while, in front, the branches of Chamelaucium uncinatum ‘Purple Pride’ [Section 12] are clad with red buds.

An Emu Bush, Eremophila maculata [Section 302], is a small open shrub bearing yellow tubular flowers while Eremophila subfloccosa [Section 302] is a low sprawling shrub with lime coloured curved tubular flowers protruding through the dense grey-green hairy leaves crowded along the branches.

Pass the section of grasses and daisies where Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 30] is a large shrub with many glowing upright cylindrical flower spikes. Grevillea dielsiana [Section 30] is a tall open upright shrub with fine foliage and terminal orange-red flower clusters. Edging the road Adenanthos obovatus [Section 30] has scarlet tubular flowers with an extending style, seen along the upright stems. Almost opposite Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 30] is a dwarf spreading shrub well endowed with golden flower spikes. Grevillea lanigera [Section 25] is a groundcover well coloured with pink and cream flowers. Close by Grevillea dimorpha [Section 25] has rust-red flowers along the upright stems of this slim shrub.

Hakea laurina - click for larger image

Across the road, Hakea cycloptera [Section 24] is an open shrub clad with multi-pink lacey flowers mixing with its sharp foliage. Grevillea paniculata [Section 26] is a medium spreading shrub with sharp leaves and attractive yellow tipped white flowers. Across the next road, Crowea exalata [Section 112] is a small prostrate plant rich with pink star flowers. Opposite Correa ‘Marian’s Marvel’ [Section 112] has pink and cream almost bell shaped flowers hanging from the branches of the spreading shrub.

Following the winding path through the Sydney Region Gully shrubs are many; but not many flowers are seen. They include Scaevola aemula [Section 191H] a semiprostrate plant bearing many purple fan-shaped flowers along the stems. A hedge of Spyridium sp. [Section 191H] is quite attractive with tiny clusters of insignificant white flowers surrounded by white floral leaves. Epacris calvertiana var. calvertiana [Section 191J, 191E] has clusters of tubular white flowers along its straggly branches. Crowea saligna [Section 191U], seen behind the circular seat, is a low spreading shrub beautiful with deep pink star flowers. Banksia spinulosa var. cunninghamii [Section 191L] is an upright shrub bearing creamish flower spikes with black styles… the flowers appear black.

Crossing the Eucalyptus Lawn where many small Supurb Blue Wrens are seen springing across the grass, down to Hakea laurina [Section 20] a large shrub beautified with its now maroon flower heads. The Rock Garden is a valuable source of colourful flowers including Thryptomene denticulata [Section 15S] with its low arching branches clad with pink flowers, and the many straw flowers, Xerochrysum sp. which brighten any garden. The Rainforest is cool and refreshing and so to the ramp which includes a mint bush, Prostanthera phylicifolia [Section 210] a small shrub well covered with catching mauve flowers; and Epacris longiflora [Section 210] with slim tube flowers, seen up the bank.

Cold days, many flowers …

Barbara Daly.