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.

27 June 2008

Hakea obtusa - click for larger image

This walk follows the Main Path, in a clockwise direction, commencing at the ramp off the Banksia Walk, where a mint bush Prostanthera phylicifolia [Section 210] continues to bear its many mauve flowers and Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa [Section 210] displays its upright cylindrical flower spikes, coloured yellow ribbed with black stamens. A walk through the wondrous Rainforest devoid of flowers, but shapes and shades of the foliage a pleasure to experience.

Continuing to the Rock Garden, past the Gold tipped bottlebrush, Callistemon polandii [Section 110] a tall shrub with scarlet flowers tipped gold. The Rock Garden has many flowers. Emu bushes include Eremophila oppositifolia [Section 15V] a small open shrub with a profusion of mauve toned bugle shaped flowers and Guichenotia ledifolia [Section 4] a rounded shrub with pale pink cup shaped down-turned flowers. Crossing the lawns Hakea obtusa [Section 20] is a medium size shrub with rather leathery leaves behind which, crowded on the old wood are the lovely globular pink flowers with cream stamens, like a pincushion. Cross the road in a section off wattles, Acacia flexifolia [Section 18] is a low spreading shrub yellow with soft fluffy flower balls.

Following the path through the Sydney Region, Banksia cunninghamii [Section 191A, 191L] is tall and slim bearing gold flower spikes ribbed with black stamens. Behind the circular seat, Crowea saligna [Section 191U] is low and spreading crowded with shiny leaves and bright with deep pink star-shaped flowers. Epacris calvertiana var. calvertiana [Section 191E] has an abundance of small white tubular flowers edging the upright branches. Towards the garden centre wattles, Acacia suaveolens [Section 191P] are small open upright trees clad with cream fluffy flower balls. Edging the path towards the glass house, Banksia oblongifolia [Section 191S] has an abundance of green flower spikes on the shrub of medium size. At the curved look-down Westringia eremicola [Section 191J] has pink flowers, crowed beside the notice regarding fossils seen imprinted in sandstone close-by. At the exit to this section Crowea exalata [Section 191H, 112] is a small shrub clad with pink star flowers.

Crossing the road the path passes through many grevilleas in bud or showing the first of many flowers. Grevillea ripicola [Section 24] is and dense spreading with red spider-like flowers while opposite Grevillea irrasa subsp. didymochiton [Section 26] is a large dense shrub with powdery pink young flowers developing into red flowers. Grevillea sericea [Section 26] is a slim upright plant tipped with pink spider flowers while beside, Grevillea humifusa [Section 26] is a prostrate plant with short toothbrush-like scarlet flowers along the trailing stems. Opposite Hakea cycloptera [Section 24] features lacy clusters of pink flowers clinging to the terminal branches. Behind, yet small Hakea ‘Kincora’ [Section 24] is picturesque with bright pink

Hakea cycloptera - click for larger image

globular flowers dense along the stems. Crossing the road Grevillea dimorpha [Section 25] is red with spider flowers clinging to the many upright branches. Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 30] is a dwarf shrub and continues to spread, having in abundance gold flower spikes. Close by the large Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 30] is illuminated with rich gold flower spikes.

A corner of Thryptomene denticulata [Section 9] is colourful with numerous low shrubs covering the lateral branches with tiny deep pink flowers and across the road the dwarf Baeckea crassifolia [Section 10] has a profusion of pink flowers covering its upright branches. A Tea-tree, Leptospermum squarrosum [Section 12] is attractive with a coverage of pink ‘peach blossom’ flowers crowning the upright shrubs. Flowers continue along the path to the café.

Cold day, many flowers … Barbara Daly.