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.

23 November 2007

Hibiscus pedunculatus - click for larger image

Because of the hot days this walk is relatively short but colourful with so many flowers. Bottlebrushes and tea-trees are magnificent as well as … well come and see! Edging Banks Walk tea-tree, Leptospermum ‘Merinda’ [Section 210] is a low dense shrub bright with lovely magenta coloured flowers. Kangaroo Paws are now beginning to flower and Anigozanthos ‘Bush Glow’ [Section 174] is showing off its burnt orange ‘paw’ flowers seen on top of a long stem surrounded by low strappy leaves. Towards the waterfall Anogozanthos ‘Bush Sunset’ [Section 210] shows its rust red flowers. Reaching over the pool Grevillea ‘Bonfire’ [Section 210] continues to produce its radiant waxy red curvaceous flower clusters while edging the path, Pelargonium rodneyanum [Section 174] has many magenta flowers rising above the foliage.

Across the lawn in front of the café the bright shrub of red is that of Callistemon ‘Wild River’ [Section 137] while, in front of that building Callistemon sp. aff. subulatus [Section 240] has coverage of pink bottlebrushes next to Callistemon citrinus ‘Splendens’ [Section 240] with fiery red flowers. Across the far corner of the building, surrounded by a rock wall Callistemon viminalis (a parent of so many cultivars] [Section 310] is large and spreading with deeply grooved trunks, and a willowy habit containing many red bottlebrushes.

Following the Main Path for a short distance Kunzea ambigua [Section 12] is a low spreading shrub clad with white fluffy flower balls. Walking through an array of callistemons, tea-trees Leptospermum ‘Aphrodite’ [Section 11] is colourful with large bright pink flowers while Leptospermum polygalifolium subsp. montanum [Section 11] is tall with branches of white flowers. A short side path is lined with Melaleuca fulgens ‘Hot Pink’ [Section10] Now, following the path marked on the map to view, opposite the large and magnificent white branched Eucalyptus mannifera [Section 10], Myoporum floribundum [Section 127] an upright shrub with short thin leaves falling from the lateral branches along which tiny white flowers crowd the upper side of the branches. On the other corner Callistemon‘Harkness’ [Section124] is a tall picturesque shrub clad with willowy branches bright with red bottlebrushes. Beside it is a Flannel Flower, Actinotus helianthi ‘Federation Stars’ [Section 124] with soft grey foliage and large flannel white daisy-like flowers. Anigozanthos flavidus [Section 119] has matt green buds just maturing. The backdrop of yellow flowers on taller shrubs are Senna odorata [Section 119].The tall shrub bright with yellow pea-shaped flowers, is that of Jacksonia scoparia [Section 119]. Edging the road a small upright plant, Geraldton Wax, Chamelaucium ‘Murfit Rose’ [Section 119] with deep pink flowers leans towards the road.

Senna odorata - click for larger image

Further along, Grevillea ‘Robyn Gordon’ [Section 109] is a low shrub with large red flower clusters, seen edging the Brittlegum Lawn. Beside it is Hibiscus pedunculatus [Section 109] revealing its soft pink flowers among other plants. Then, returning down the road to the café, the Native Elderberry, Cuttsia viburnea [Sections 114,125] is a large dense shrub with shiny toothed leaves, now with large sprays of cream buds opening to perfumed white flowers. Then down to the café.

Some floral wonderland … Barbara Daly.