In Flower This Week 28.08.2009

sA weekly news sheet prepared by a Gardens' volunteer.
Numbers in square brackets [ ] refer to garden bed Sections. Plants in flower are in bold type.

Such a pleasure to stroll through the Botanic Gardens now, so yellow with the many wattles. In the south car park where Acacia baileyana [Section 227] and Acacia cultriformis ‘Cascade’ [Section 226] fall over the rock walls so attractively colouring yellow with their flower balls. On either side of the stairs the floral emblem of Australia, Acacia pycnantha [Sections 223, 224] are small trees bright with their golden flower balls.

At the entrance to the Visitors Information Centre, in tubs of flowers include the graceful Grevillea treueriana a small shrub with arching branches of divided leaves and conspicuous clusters of red and yellow flowers. Edging Banks Walk the Snowy River Wattle, Acacia boormanii [Section 210] is so showy with its dense coverage of soft yellow flower balls while opposite, Acacia gordonii [Section 172] is a small shrub with stiff lateral branches containing firm yellow flower balls. Darwinia macrostegia [Section 174] resembles a small Christmas Tree with its red flowers dangling from its branches. Hibbertia empetrifolia [Section 210] covers the wall with yet a sprinkling of open yellow flowers while Rhodanthe anthemoides [Section 174] bears its clusters of white daily-like flowers about the garden. Notice the grouping of grass trees which include Xanthorrhoea glauca subsp. angustifolia [Section 60] with long arching green skirt surrounding the fresh stem containing juvenile green flower spikes.

Take the road edging the far side of the Rainforest, to view the showy small Grevillea rosmarinifolia ‘Rosy Posy’ [Section 128] with dangling red flower clusters. Around the corner the Q’ld Silver Wattle, Acacia podalyriifolia [Section 126] is impressive with its coverage of soft yellow flower balls mixing with the blue-grey foliage. Further along Grevillea ‘Poorinda Diadem’ [Section 126] is a medium open shrub bearing apricot coloured spider flowers.

Towards the Rock Garden a bed of emu bushes include Eremophila oppositifolia [Section 302] is a neat upright shrub with bare trunk topped with an array of curvaceous pinkish white tubular flowers. Close by Acacia aphylla [Section 302] presents itself as an open upright shrub with many narrow sharp spiky branches softened by single yellow flower balls. Grevillea aspleniifolia [Section 124] is of medium size with an enormous spread with long serrated narrow foliage and with pink toothbrush flowers. At the corner another emu bush, Eremophila glabra subsp. glabra [Section 302] is almost upright with tiny leaves clasping the branches with small pink flower tubes. Hardenbergia sp. [Section 5] seen throughout the gardens is a vine with purple pea flowers.

Opposite the picturesque waterfall with ducks gliding on the pond Guichenotia ledifolia [Section 4] continues to be a pretty rounded shrub clad with pink downturned cupshaped flowers. The lawns illustrate a presentation called ‘Wattles Have Families Too’ – displaying evolutionary relationships of 1000 wattle species, so worth attention.

Acacia leprosa ' Scarlet Blaze' - click for larger image

Returning to area of offices etc. worth viewing is Eucalyptus caesia [Section 239] against the wall of the Crosbie Morrison building, with upright hairy brown trunk, white arching branches and large attractive red-yellow flowers. In front of the café building on either side of a doorway, Acacia ‘Scarlet Blaze’ [Section 131] are beauties with their orange-red firm flower balls dotted along the branches. Nourishment can be had below the large lateral branches clad with cream flower balls of Acacia melanoxylon [Section 61] at the café.

In Flower this Week