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.

25 May 2007

Astartea 'Winter Pink'- click for larger image

Flowers continue to be plentiful on these cooler autumn days. Banksias are so colourful, many grevilleas are now in flower and other plants are heavy in bud. So this walk follows the Main Path starting at the far end of the café building where Banksia spinulosa var.collina [Section 131] displays its cylindrical gold flower spikes. Small plants including Astartea ‘Winter Pink’ [Section 10] is upright tipped with tiny pink flowers and Baeckea crassifolia [Section 10] is a dwarf shrub crowned also with pink flowers. Opposite, Melaleuca ‘Hot Pink’ [Section 11] is a taller woody shrub beautified with bright pink flower clusters on its high terminal branches.

Further along the very large shrub, Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 30] is well clad with rich gold flower spikes. Almost opposite Grevillea dielsiana [Sections 30, 26] has clusters of attractive orange-red flowers decorating this medium open shrub. Across the next road, behind the seat, Grevillea ‘Bonfire’ [Section 24] is tall and dense with divided leaves and waxy orange-red flower spikes. Beside the next seat Grevillea tripartita subsp. macrostylis [Section 26] is an upright shrub with spider-like flowers coloured red with yellow tips among its sharp holly-like leaves. Like other grevilleas small birds enjoy its nectar. There are many grevilleas in flower in this section.

Across the next road, Crowea exalata [Section 112] bears many pink star-like flowers over the medium size shrub while Correa ‘Marian’s Marvel’ [Section 112] is a dense spreading shrub with pendent tubular red and lime coloured flowers.

The path then weaves through the Sydney Region Gully where flowers include Scaevola aemula [Section 191H], a dense prostrate plant with cream centred purple fan-shaped flowers amid its shiny green leaves. A mint bush, Prostanthera porcata [Section 191S] has many branches on this upright shrub dotted with cream bugle-shaped flowers. Opposite the look-down, the red tubular flowers crowded along the long stems is that of the Victorian floral emblem, Epacris impressa [Section 191P] while in the background, a wattle, Acacia suaveolens [Section 191P] is an upright shrub with cream fluffy flower balls on the few branches. Crossing the path the bright yellow daisy-like flowers atop upright stems are those of Senecio velleioides [Section 191E]. Epacris pulchella [Section 191U] beside the path has pink star flowers enveloping its upright branches. Then behind the circular seat Crowea saligna [Section 191U] is low and spreading with lovely large deep pink star-like flowers over its bright green foliage.

Acacia suaveolens '- click for larger image

Roam down through the Eucalyptus Lawn. Hakea laurina [Section 20] is a large shrub laden with buds just opening to its attractive red ‘pincushion’ flowers. Entering the Rock Garden full of floral treasures, Thryptomene denticulata [Section 15S] is a low spreading shrub with arching branches pretty with tiny pink flowers. Guichenotia ledifolia [Section 4], beside the fountain, is a dense rounded shrub with grey-green foliage and down-turned dark centred pink flowers.

The Rainforest is a pleasant experience full of many shades of green plants, then down the ramp where Prostanthera phylicifolia [Section 210] has mauve bugle shaped flowers scattered on its low dense shrub and emu bush, Eremophila maculata subsp. maculata [Section 210] is bright with its yellow buds and bugle shaped flowers.

Many flowers to admire … Barbara Daly.