In Flower this Week

Grevillea lanigera click for larger image

The purpose of this walk is to view the flowers in the Rock Garden. But first it is worth viewing Eucalyptus ‘Summer Beauty’ [Section 174] with its large cluster of pink fluffy flowers in the garden edging Banks Walk and Eucalyptus ‘Summer Red’ [Section 174] with its large cluster of dazzling red flowers, seen from the lower path.

To arrive at the Rock Garden follow the road on the far side of the Rainforest, turning right at the connection of the Main Path which will reach the waterfall in front of which are Emu Bushes including Eremophila christophori [Section 15v] with mauve bugle shaped flowers over an upright open shrub. Edging the rockface are small herbs with white star flowers of Isotoma axillaris [Section 15d]. (Those with mauve flowers can be viewed in Section 15f.)

Take the path in a clockwise direction Hibbertia pedunculata [Section 15d] has bright yellow flowers over the dense small shrub, crowds around the rock base. Grevillea ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’ [Section 15d] is a dense groundcover with dark red toothbrush-like flowers scattered about the foliage as it flows down the rockface. Beside it is a large shrub leaning towards the path, Correa ‘Ivory Bells’, [Section 15d] profuse with ivory pendular tubular flowers. Opposite is Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia [Section 15c] a semiprostrate shrub with silver-backed leaves and upright cylingrical lemon flower spikes. Chrysocephalum semiamplexicaule [Section 15d] has clusters of bright yellow and orange flower heads on long wavering stems.

In this bed Hypocalymma xanthopetalum [Section 15f] is a low woody shrub beautified with tiny yellow flowers along the stems. Around the corner Verticordia pennigera [Section 15f] has pink fluffy flower clusters over the small shrub. Almost opposite a She-oak, Allocasuarina rigida [Section 15a] in a group, is a small tree densely clad with soft needle-like foliage with similar ‘male’ flowers of a rust colour. At this next corner is a group of leafy tussocky Lemon Grasses, Cymbopogon ambiguus [Section 15g] with long slender stems tipped with spikelets containing tiny flowers.

Edging these stairs Grevillea ‘Mason’s Hybrid’ [Section 15h] displays its picturesque pink and white terminal flowers over this large shrub. At the upper corner Grevillea lanigera [Section 15h] is a dense prostrate plant profuse with red-cream spider-like flowers. Edging the top road straw flowers, Xerochrysum bracteatum [Section 15h] displays the bright daisy-like yellow flowers. Scaevola albida var. albida [Section 15h] bears both white and mauve fan shaped flowers over the low spreading plants. Dampiera sylvestris [Section 15h], close by, is a suckering upright plant with blue flowers.

Xerochrysum bracteatum click for larger image

Taking the small left path between Grass trees, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii [Section 15,14] down past the dense Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia [Section 15l] where Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 15l] is illuminated with lemon, maturing to gold, upright flower spikes over the dense spreading dwarf shrub. Edging the downward path, Emu bush Eremophila bignoniiflora [Section 15r] is an open spreading shrub displaying white bugle shaped flowers with a prominent speckled throat. Opposite, Dampiera salahae [Section 15s] is a small shrub displaying its blue flowers, grows between the rocks while above the rocks Crowea ‘Festival’ [Section 15s] is a rounded shrub clad with pink star-shaped flowers. Correa ‘Cane’s Hybrid’ [Section 15s] is quite dense profuse with pascal coloured red and lemon tubular flowers. At the lower corner Thryptomene denticulata [Section 15s] is a low shrub with long lateral branches clad with tiny pink flowers. And so back to the picturesque waterfall and ponds below.

Such a place to visit … Barbara Daly.