In Flower This Week 03.04.2009

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.

As you leave the Visitors Information Centre on the right is Epacris impressa or Common Heath [Section 174] showing pink bells on a straggly bush. Go over the bridge past the café onto the Main Path. On the left hand side is Banksia ‘Stumpy Gold’ [Section 131] with slender golden spires on a compact bush. As you turn up the hill on the right hand side is Leptospermum squarrosum [Section 11] with showy pink tea tree flowers blooming close to the branches of the shrub.

There is an attractive bottlebrush on the left hand side, Callistemon chisholmii [Section 10] with short pink brushes on an airy tree. Further along on the right hand side is Banksia ‘Honey Pots’ [Section 30] with lovely deep gold brushes. Behind the banksia is Grevillea oxyantha subs. oxyantha [Section 30] with red spider blooms and beyond that Grevillea macleayana or Jervis Bay Grevillea [Section 30] with pink toothbrush flowers. Low on the right hand side is Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia (prostrate form) or Coast Banksia [Section 30] with silvery green spires on a vigorous bush. Another attractive prostrate shrub is seen on the left hand side, Grevillea lanigera (prostrate form) [Section 25], showing bright green foliage and pink/cream flowers.

On the right hand side a large tree Banksia conferta subsp. penicillata or Newnes Plateau Banksia [Section 25] has interesting lime green brushes with downy orange brown tips. These tips persist throughout flowering and can be seen on old cones. By all means investigate the Sydney Region Gully, but we turn left back towards the café. On the right is Correa glabra var. glabra [Section 112] with lime green bells on a neat bush. Further along on the right a strong wattle fragrance leads you to Acacia subulata [Section 18] with golden balls on a slight grey green tree. On the left Eremophila oldfieldii subsp. angustifolia [Section 14] is beloved by bees who swarm to its bright pink tubular flowers. Turn down the gravel path to the left between Sections 14 and 15 through the Rock Garden. On the left hand side is Eremophila laanii [Section 15] with pretty pale pink tubular flowers. Behind it is Acacia aneura var. aneura [Section 15] with small golden rods in abundance.

Acacia subulata - click for larger image

Bear right across the bridge and notice low on the right the bright blue flowers of Halgania anagalloides var. preissiana [Section 15]. Further along on the left is Chrysocephalum semiamplexicaule [Section 15] with brilliant golden balls. Go down the steps and notice on the left Correa ‘Ivory Bells’ with lovely grey foliage and subdued cream bells. Opposite the correa is another exuberant Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia [Section 15c]. Go straight down the hill and stop for a group of three plants on your right. Callistemon pachyphyllus ‘Smoked Salmon’ [Section 110] aptly named with pinkish brushes, Swainsona galegifolia [Section 110] with pink pea flowers and Callistemon subulatus [Section 110] with bright red brushes. Return down the hill through the green posts to the café.

In Flower this Week