Australian National Botanic Gardens

In Flower this Week

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.

23 October 2009

Hibbertia serpyllifolia - click for larger image

The pots outside the Visitors Information Centre contain the colourful combination of the blue flowers of Lechenaultia biloba and the yellow flowers of Hibbertia serpyllifolia, both dwarf plants. However this walk will view a selection of flowers in the Rock Garden. To arrive there follow the road edging the far side of the Rainforest where many rock orchids can be seen, turning right at the connection of the Main Walk which will reach the Rock Garden waterfall.

Take the path in a clockwise direction where the Gymea Lily, Doryanthes excelsa [Section 15c] displays its large red flower clusters on top of its extended stems surrounded by large sword shaped leaves. In front Grevillea lanigera [Section 15c] has an abundance of dusky pink and cream flowers over the dense groundcover. Tetratheca bauerifolia [Section 15c] is a small shrub showy with a coverage of pink flowers along the dense upright stems. Opposite, Grevillea ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’ [Section 15d] a dense groundcover with deep red toothbrush shaped flower spikes cascades down the rock face to the pools below. On the opposite side path Ranunculus collinus [Section 15b] makes an attractive groundcover with its metallic yellow flowers scattered among the greenery.

The small garden contains Conostylis seorsiflora [Section 15v] a prostrate small plant clad with yellow star flowers while behind, the Grey Cottonwood, Conostylis candicans [15v] is a tufted plant with grey-green foliage and heads of yellow flowers on upright stems. Micromyrtus ciliata [Section 15g] is so attractive with its arching branches clad with brick red tiny flowers over the low shrubs.

Returning to the base of the stairs a colourful corner contains Westringia glabra [Section 15a] a shrub of medium size clad with pink flowers, with few Bulbine glauca succulent plants [Section 15a] displaying its yellow star-like flowers atop of the upright stems. Edging the stairs Homoranthus flavescens [Section 15a] is a neat dense shrub with flattened branches clad with long yellow flower spikes. Edging the top road Hypocalymma angustifolium [Section 15h] has tiny fluffy pale pink flower balls edging the branches of this dense small shrub. Grevillea lavandulacea [Section 15H] is an ageing shrub with grey-green foliage brightened with red spiker-like flowers. Hibbertia empetrifolia [Section 15h] is a dense entanglement of trailing stems showy with its many yellow flowers. Near the corner a Blue Tinsel Lily, Calectasia intermedia [Section 15h] is a dwarf dense upright shrub with yellow centred metallic blue star flowers, in profusion. Such a sight is the waratah, Telopea ‘Corroboree’ [Section 15j] with a coverage of its large red flower heads over the many branched tall shrub.

Taking the path down between the grass trees, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii [Sections 15j,14], passing Senna artemisioides [Section 14] with yellow cup-shaped flowers on an open shrub, viewing another waratah, Telopea speciosissima ‘Wirrimbirra White’ [Section 15r] a large spectacular shrub profuse with its large whitish flower spikes. Close by an emu bush, Eremophila alternifolia [Section 15r] is an upright shrub crowned with cerise coloured tubular flowers amid its leaves.

Eremophila alternifolia - click for larger image

Lower down Dampiera purpurea [Section 15s] covers the small upright plant with purple flowers among its large leaves while around the corner Coral Vine, Kennedia coccinea [Section 15s] with small orange-red pea –shaped flowers falls down the slope. The large spreading shrub above the waterfall is the Snow Daisy Bush, Olearia lirata [Section 15q] white with small daisies. Opposite the pools below, Indigofera australis [Section 4] an open spreading shrub displaying its rarely seen, white pea-shaped flowers. Sunning on the rocks, or swimming in the water are seen water dragons of various ages and sizes.

Certainly a great area of the Gardens… Barbara Daly.