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.

15 August 2008

Acacia gordonii - click for larger image

The Gardens are yellow with so many wattles. There are about 260 species in the Gardens, not all flowering at this time. As this walk will follow the flowers encircling the Eucalyptus Lawn, wattles cannot be missed. Edging Banks Walk the Snowy River wattle, Acacia boormanii [Section 210] branches towards the path with its soft fluffy flower balls while opposite Acacia gordonii [Section 174] is a small shrub with arching branches tightly clad with dark foliage and bright with yellow flower balls scattered among the many buds. Another harbinger of spring is the Hardenbergia violacea [Section 210] with its purple pea-shaped flowers along the twining vine. Mondurup Bell, Darwinia macrostegia [Section174] is a small open shrub interesting with slim red buds which will mature to the renowned bells, hanging from the branches.

Taking the path on the far side of the Rainforest, Grevillea rosmarinifolia ‘Rosy Posy’ [Section 128] is a small shrub with pink and cream flower clusters hanging from its branches. Above, the Dagger Wattle, Acacia siculiformis [Section 128] is an upright shrub bearing deep cream flower balls. Around the corner Q’ld Silver Wattle, Acacia podalyriifolia [Section 126] is a tall shrub clad with its lovely fluffy flower balls almost concealing its silvery green foliage.

Continue uphill, passing Banksia spinulosa [Section 109] with many upright golden flower spikes, edges the Brittlegum Lawn to view the brilliance of a Geraldton Wax, Chamelaucium ‘Cascade Brook’ [Section 17]. This shrub is well clad with mottled pink open flowers and darker buds. Beside is Epacris calvertiana var. calvertiana [Section 17], bearing its pendulous cream tubular flowers. At another corner Dampiera salahae [Section 17] is a dwarf spreading plant now blue with its flowers. Across the road mint bushes, Prostanthera rotundifolia [Section 78] now have a haze of small pink flowers.

Following the angular path to the left passing more wattles including the fluffy yellow flowering Acacia kettlewelliae x pravissima [Section 2] to the Eucalyptus Lawn and across to Ducrou Pavilion. Edging the lawn, Dracophyllum secundum [Section 44] is an upright spreading shrub with linear arching leaves surrounding the stems and small pale pink tubular flowers crowded about the tips. Morinda jasminoides [Section 44] is a shiny leaved vine clad with orange berries which followed white perfumed flowers. A tea-tree, Leptospermum squarrosum [Section 44] is a tall shrub with terminal pink flowers which overlook Crowea saligna [Section 44] with bright pink star flowers and Grevillea sphacelata [Section 44] a larger open shrub with woolly pinkish grey flower clusters.

Grevillea floribunda subsp. floribunda - click for larger image

Following the road edging the Sydney BasinEpacris purpurascens var. purpurascens [Section 191E] is an upright plant with tiny pink flowers towards the branch terminals with many pink buds edging the branches. Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 191G] is a tall shrub bright with its gold flower spikes while towards the next corner Hovea lanceolata [Section 191H] twines itself about anything with its deep purple pea-shaped flowers. Behind is Deua Flame, Grevillea rhyolitica subsp. rhyolitica [Section 191H] with its orange-red flower clusters pendent over the medium size shrub. About this area are numerous flowering plants which include Grevillea floribunda subsp. floribunda [Section 26] an upright shrub with pendulous rust coloured woolly flower clusters. Other flowering plants line the Main Walk back to the café with hot coffee and ……..

Good walking and great flowers … Barbara Daly.