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.

24 July 2009

Homoranthus flavescens - click for larger image

The walk today follows the Main Path which passes through areas of the lovely gum trees with white trunks, the Sydney Basin flora, the Rock Garden and the Rainforest and many shrubs elsewhere, mostly heavy in bud and flowers to admire.

Commencing at the far end of the café building where Acacia alata var. biglandulosa [Section 240] displays its cream flower balls edging the angulated flattened stems of this unusual wattle. Following the path to view Baeckea crassifolia [Section 10], also seen at the entry to the Information Centre, a small shrub clad with tiny pink flowers edging the many stems. Past the section of grasses, Eriostemon ‘J. Semmens’ [Section 30] has a profusion of pink buds which will open to multipetalled flowers over this small shrub. The heath-leaved banksia, Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 30] is quite a large shrub displaying brilliant upright cylindrical golden flower spikes. Almost opposite Homoranthus flavescens [Section 30] is a spreading flat-topped decorative shrub, the lateral branches being tipped with dull red buds. Behind the next seat Grevillea diminuta [Section 30] is a low angular shrub revealing the first of its rust red pendent floral clusters. Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 30] is a dwarf shrub continuing to spreading and show its golden flower spikes while Hairpin Banksia, Banksia spinulosa [Section 27] reveals its yellow flower spikes over a low shrub.

Grevilleas are mostly heavy in bud with others already flowering. They include the Deua Flame, Grevillea rhyolitica subsp. rhyolitica [Section 25] shrubs of medium size with dangling red spider flowers. Grevillea lanigera [Section 25] is a dense groundcover well covered with cream and pink flowers.

Crossing this road Hakea ‘Winter Burgundy’ [Section 26] is a slim upright shrub which displays its globular burgundy flowers tightly along the branches. Grevillea dielsiana [Section 26] is an open shrub with fine divided prickly leaves and pendulous orange-red flower clusters. Close to the road Grevillea centristigma [Section 26] is a dwarf spreading shrub with prominent hairy leaves which almost conceals its bright yellow flowers.

Continue to the Sydney Region Gully too early for many flowers but an area to appreciate. Crowea exalata [Section 191h] is quite small with many pink star flowers. View the many fern fossils [Section 191j] pre 65 million years ago in a viewing wall. Epacris calvertiana var. calvertiana [Section 191j] is a wiry plant with an abundance of tubular cream flowers. A group of wattles, Acacia suaveolens [Section 191p] bears cream fluffy flower balls on these small open shrubs while Crowea saligna [Section 191u] behind the seat, has bright pink flowers among the bright green foliage

The far side of the Eucalyptus Lawn, the path wanders through an area of wattles where Acacia flexifolia [Section 18] is clad with fluffy yellow flower balls overits long lowbranches. Across the road Hakea purpurea [Section 20] has upright branches clad with clusters of bright red flowers. The Rock Garden, always a place to explore, displays Thryptomene denticulata [Section 15s] looks splendid with its low arching branches clad with tiny pink flowers. In front of this scenic pool complete with waterfall, Guichenotia ledifolia [Section 4] is a rounded shrub with grey-green foliage and downturned pink cup shaped flowers. Rhodanthe anthemoides [Section 15d] snug between rocks, is a small dense perennial profuse with pink-white buds which will mature to white daisy-like flowers.

Hakea purpurea - click for larger image

The path then continues to the Rainforest with its own spectacular plants. It continues down the ramp where mint bush, Prostanthera phylicifolia [Section 210] covers its shrub with mauve flowers and an emu bush, Eremophila maculata subsp. maculata [Section 210] has bright yellow tubular flowers… and down to the Information Centre.