In Flower this Week

Olearia ramosissima click for larger image

Find the colourful beauties edging Banks Walk then continue across the bridge to continue along the Main Path where many banksias, fewer grevilleas and other flowers are flowering. So, starting at the far end of the café building where Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa [Section 131] shows off its bright golden upright cylindrical flower spikes on the tall shrub against the brick wall. See the sparkling red bottlebrush flowers of Callistemon citrinus ‘Splendens’ [Section 11] among other shrubs and again down the side path in Section 9 as a large shrub. The bed of emu bushes includes Eremophila maculata subsp. maculata [Section 302] is showy with bright yellow tube shaped flowers over its small shrub. A corner edged with Olearia ramosissima [Section 303] with bluish-white daisies crowns the dwarf size shrub while the bed of daisies includes Xerochrysum bracteatum [Section 303] with yellow straw flowers on upright stems.

Dryandra quercifolia [Section 30], edging the path is of medium size with numerous large yellow fluffy flower heads and many buds while opposite, Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 30] is a dense dwarf spreading shrub laden with upright golden flower spikes. Take the nearby left path to view Callistemon ‘White Anzac’[Section 30] a low dense spreading shrub bright with white bottlebrush flowers. Returning to the Main Path where Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia [Section 30] is a dense prostrate plant with silver back leaves and lemon flower spikes. Across this path a Geebung, Persoonia chamaepitys [Section 27] has tiny yellow tube-shaped flowers over this dense ground cover. Behind is a tall almost slim Banksia paludosa subsp. astrolux [Section 27] with long greenish-yellow flower spikes concealed among the many upright branches.

Across the next road Hakea cycloptera [Section 24] a rather straggly shrub beautified with an abundance of pink-cream lacy flowers crowded along old wood and stems. Opposite is a small prostrate Grevillea humifusa [Section 26] with fiery red flowers tipped with gold. Other grevilleas are seen along this path among the tall mottled trunks of eucalypts.

Cross the next road where Crowea exalata [Section 112] is a small prostrate plant with cheery red star-like flowers, falls towards the path. Then another road leads to the Flora of the Sydney Region. Follow this winding path where Podolobium aciculiferum [Section 191h] is an upright shrub with small yellow-red pea shaped flowers, Crowea exalata [Section 191h] here, is a small shrub bright with pink star flowers. In the gully is a group of Native Blackthorns, Bursaria spinosa subsp. spinosa [Section 191s] with a crown of white daisy-like flowers on these tall shrubs. Epacris calvertiana var. calvertiana [Section 191j] is a wiry shrub with many white tube-shaped flowers. Behind the circular seat Prostanthera porcata [Section 191u] reveals its variable pink tubular flowers and Crowea saligna [Section 191u] is showy with its large pink star-shaped flowers.

Prostanthera porcata click for larger image

Across the Eucalyptus Lawn down through many wattles to the Rock Garden, an area with an abundance of flowers. Edging the path Correa ‘Cane’s Hybrid’ [Section 15s] is dense with many dangling pink and green tube-shaped flowers overhanging the rockface. Beside is Thryptomene denticulata [Section 15s] a low spreading shrub pretty with tiny pink flowers edging the stems. In front of the waterfall Guichenotia ledifolia [Section 4] is a neat rounded shrub with green-grey foliage and an abundance of mauve coloured cup-shaped flowers.

The Rainforest is a pleasure to walk in with a variety of shades of green and shapes of the many plants. Then down the ramp to the Information Centre or to the Café.

 

Pleasant walking… Barbara Daly.