Australian National Botanic Gardens
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Australian National Botanic Gardens |
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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.
17 April 2009
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Syzygium australe - click for larger image |
As you leave the Visitors Information Centre on the left low down is Hibbertia vestita [Section 210] with bright yellow buttercup flowers contrasting with the small purple flowers of Prostanthera phylicifolia [Section 210]. Turn left up the steps at the pot of Swainsona formosa Sturt’s Desert Pea and bear right across the bridge over the rainforest gully. Look up to the right at the double bench to see the fluffy white flowers of the Bush Cherry or Syzygium australe [Section 147] on a tree with fresh green shiny oval leaves.
Follow the Main Path across the bridge to the right and turn up the hill to the left on the asphalt road. On the left is Acronychia imperforata [Section 104] in full bloom with greenish yelllow flowers and attractive green foliage. This tree is beloved by bees and butterflies especially the beautiful Macleay’s Swallowtail with green wings decorated in black. Bear right towards the Eucalypt Lawn and notice up to your left on the corner a large airy bush of Chamelaucium ‘Cascade Brook’ [Section 17] with pink flowers with maroon throats.
Under the Rock Garden sign on your left is Grevillea lanigera [Section 15h], a prostrate shrub in full bloom with pink flowers teeming with bees. As you continue down the steps on your left is a glorious Grevillea ‘Mason’s Hybrid’ [Section 15h] with large pink/orange inflorescences also very attractive to bees and birds, especially the Eastern Spinebill. Go straight ahead noticing on your left above the seat the purple flowers with gold centres and grey foliage of Solanum sturtianum [Section 15g]. Go across the small bridge to Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia [Section 15l] on the right with silvery green spires on a vigorous bush. Go out of the Rock Garden and bear right along the road then turn right onto the Main Path.
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Thryptomene denticulata - click for larger image |
On the left near the shelter is Hakea drupacea [Section 20] which has sweetly scented white fluffy flowers on a spare bush. On your left in the fenced off section is Callistemon ‘Splendens’ [Section 4] with prolific red brushes on a neat small tree. On the right is Thryptomene denticulata [Section 15s] with pretty pink flowers on arching stems. Also on the right are the tubular orange bells and bright green foliage of Eremophila oldfieldii [Section 15v] . Two steps along are the bright red bells of the Eremophila latrobei [Section 15v] on grey foliage. Further down the hill on the right is Swainsona galegifolia [Section 110] with cheerful pink pea flowers and Callistemon subulatus [Section 110] with bright crimson brushes. On the left is the groundcover Teucrium argutum [Section 6] showing its small pink spires. Low on the right is Spyridium vexilliferum [Section 127] with tiny white velvety bracts like wings on a slender bush. Also to the right are several large bushes of Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa [Section 131] showing numerous gold candles. Turn right towards the café noting another banksia, this time a groundcover, Banksia ‘Stumpy Gold’ [Section 131] covering a corner with golden brushes. Nearer the café is Correa baeuerlenii [Section 131] or Chef’s Cap Correa with its strange green flowers and shiny foliage.
Rosalind Walcott