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 January 2009

Can’t help but admiring the collection of flowers in pots at the entrance to the Visitors Centre AND the brilliance of the Eucalyptus ficifolia [Section 174, 210] with its orange flowers seen along Banks Walk.

However this walk is about the Rock Garden. Starting at the base of the waterfall, Lythrum salicaria [Section 15q] stands tall and dense about the ponds with spikes of pink terminal flowers. Facing the waterfall, the left bank is carpeted with Grevillea ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’ [Section 15d], its pink toothbrush-like flowers mingling with the green foliage. To the far left, Banksia aemula [Section 15c] has many lime-coloured cylindrical flower spikes over a dense shrub. In front, a ground creeping vine, Hibbertia scandens [Section 15c] produces large yellow flowers.

Ascending the stairs, Hibbertia pedunculata [Section 15d], dense and semi-prostrate with smaller yellow flowers, is squeezed between rock and path. Chrysocephalumsemiamplexicaule [Section 15d] has dazzling button-size yellow and orange flowers over the mostly upright spreading plant. Across the bridge the small garden covered with green cushion plants, Scleranthus biflorus [Section 15n] contrasts with Bulbine vagans [Section 15v] which has long succulent leaves and longer stems tipped with yellow flower heads. Emu bush, Eremophila maculata var. brevifolia [Section 15f], seen in the centre of the garden, is a small shrub clad with bright cerise-coloured tube-shaped flowers. Garland Lilies, Calostemma purpureum [Section 15f ], which have long stems of 10 or more pink trumpet-like flowers, are seen at different places. Grevillea albiflora [Section15g] is a medium, upright shrub, attractive with a covering of cream terminal flower spikes.

Edging the ascending stairs, Grevillea ‘Mason’s Hybrid’ [Section 15h] is a grand old shrub with large lateral branches terminating with soft red flower spikes. From the top road many kangaroo paws, Anigozanthos flavidus [Section15h] are showy with burnt red ‘paw’ flowers on long upright stems. Eucalyptus grasbyi [Section 15h], beside the road, is a small tree clad with dense foliage and cream fluffy flowers. Scaevola albida var.albida [Section 15h] has white fan-shaped flowers over this low spreading plant. Close by is Dampiera sylvestris [Section 15h], a suckering plant with bright blue flowers. At the corner, small plants of the Scarlet Mint Bush, Prostanthera aspalathoides [Section 15h] have red tubular flowers along the upright foliage.

Turning to the right between the grass trees Xanthorrhoea johnsonii [Sections 15j and 14], you see Peak Charles Claw Flower, Calothamnus tuberosus [Section 14], a medium-sized shrub with sharp needle leaves and red bottlebrush-like flowers which appear to hug the stems. Following this path towards the waterfall, Eremophila christophori [Section 15r] has long angular branches with mauve trumpet-shaped flowers. Stenocarpus angustifolius [Section 15s] is a rounded medium shrub attractive with globular heads of cream lacy flowers. Opposite, the dwarf Ptilotus drummondii [Section 15r] has stems tipped with mauve fluffy flower heads while in the background the large white hibiscus flowers of Alyogyne huegelii [Section 15r] can be seen among the surrounding shrubs. Opposite the pools Thryptomene denticulata [Section 15s] is clad with tiny pink flowers edging the lateral branches. Opposite, a bottlebrush Callistemon recurvus [Section 4] is a tall attractive shrub presenting its glowing red bottlebrushes. Time to sit and enjoy the surrounding beauty, with waterdragons and tiny blue wrens and many other birds.

Hot days, floral beauty continues … Barbara Daly.