Australian National Botanic Gardens

In Flower this Week

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.

6 October 2006

Hardenbergia violaceae - click for larger image

These gardens are a kaleidoscope of colour which continues along the Main Path, starting the far end of the Café building. Chamelaucium uncinatum ‘Purple Pride’ [Section 12] with waxy magenta flowers on an open plant, an emu bush, Eremophila nivea [Section 302] bearing purple trumpet flowers amidst its soft grey foliage while Bulbine glauca [Section 303] displays its yellow flowers on upright stems, is ahead.

The path then arrives at a group of waratahs, including Telopea ‘Doug’s Hybrid [Section 30] decked with spectacular large red flowers. The False Sarsaparilla, Hardenbergia violacea ‘Mini Haha’ [Section 30 and elsewhere] is a trailing plant quite dense with violet coloured pea flowers. Homoranthus flavescens [Section 30] is a small spreading flat topped shrub clad with a haze of yellow perfumed flowers. Opposite Grevillea aquifolium [Section 30] has holly-like leaves and short dusky red toothbrush-like flowers over the low spreading plant. The flowers of nearby Grevillea lavandulacea ‘Tanunda’ [Section 30] are bright scarlet amid the grey-green foliage. The path continues to pass by many grevilleas including Grevillea dielsiana [Section 26] with graceful orange-red pendulous flowers on an open shrub, Grevillea ‘Poorinda adorning’ [Section 124] a dwarf spreading shrub profusely covered with red spider-like flowers and Grevillea flexuosa [Section 26] clad with bright yellow fragrant candle-like flowers over a dense shrub.

Philotheca myoporoides subsp. conduplicata [Section 112] is an attractive rounded shrub clad with pink buds mixing with white star flowers. Opposite, Phebalium squamulosum [Section112] has a coverage of bright yellow terminal flower heads.

Boronia pinnata - click for larger image

Following the path through the Sydney Region Gully colourful plants include Eriostemon australasius [Section 191H] is yet a small shrub covered in profusion with waxy white, with a dash of pink, star flowers. Boronia pinnata [Sections 191H,191J] has a coverage of deep pink flowers over the low spreading shrub while Platylobium formosum [Section 191S, 191E] has red centred yellow pea flowers. Take this turn off to the colourful ORCHIC DISPLAY or continue to view Epacris reclinata [Section 191M], a dwarf plant clad with white tipped pink tubular flowers seen edging the rocks. Indigofera australis [Section 191U], a local plant, is an upright open shrub decorated with sprays of purple pea flowers while the small Hibbertia saligna [Section 191l] has large yellow open flowers. At the exit towards Sydney Basin is the rounded shrub of Prostanthera sp A ‘Rylstone’ [Section 191 L, 191 A] clad with pink to mauve flowers.

Cross the Eucalyptus Lawn to view Hakea purpurea [Section 20] with lacy flowers coloured crimson on the open upright shrub to the Rock Garden offering many flowers including Telopea speciosissima ‘Wirrimbirra White’ [Section 15R] showy with large white flowers on a tall many branched shrub. The tiny Lechenaultia biloba [Section 15R] is colourful with its china blue flowers while Indigofera australis [Section 4] is low with lateral branches covered in profusion with white flowers.

Towards the exit of the Rainforest tree orchids include Thelychiton falcorostrus [Section 145,65] with sprays of white flowers clinging to the trunk of Eucryphia moorei and the lovely orange blossom orchid, Sarcochilus falcatus [Section148] smaller white flowers.

Flowers never stop. They then continue down the ramp to the Visitors Centre.

The gardens, such a place to be … Barbara Daly.