Pileanthus vernicosus click for larger image

T The Gardens are ablaze with bottlebrushes coloured red or pink or cream and other plants too. See the wall of orchids inside the Visitors Information Centre and admire the flowers from Banks Walk which include pots containing Coppercups, Pileanthus vernicosus, a small shrub clad in profusion with showy salmon red flowers and Scaevola phlebopetala displaying its deep purple fan shaped flowers with yellow throat. Compare the latter with Scaevola aemula ‘Aussie Salute’ [Section 174] displaying its smaller mauve-blue flowers over the small mounded plant. Another pot contains Sturt’s Desert Pea, Swainsona formosa displaying its renowned large black throated red pea-shaped flowers.

Across the bridge and in front of the café building in the Edna Walling Garden are pimeleas including Pimelea ferruginea ‘Magenta Mist’ [Section 131] is a many-branched upright small shrub crowned with deep pinkish-purple flower heads. At the far end of this garden Pimelea ferruginea ‘Bonne Petite’ [Section 131] has soft pink flower heads. Overhead is a tea-tree, Leptospermum ‘Lavender Queen’[Section 131] clad with soft pink peach-blossom flowers on this open shrub. Opposite this garden Callistemon ‘Splendens’ [Section 240] is a large dense shrub bearing in profusion brilliant red bottlebrush flowers.

Follow the Main Path for a short distance to view Melaleuca fulgens ‘Hot Pink’ [Section 10] bright pink stumpy bottlebrush flowers over this rather bare upright shrub. Then take the path to the right where Melaleuca spathulata [Section 9] is a dense low shrub clad with small purple-pink globular flowers. Micromyrtus ciliata [Section 9] is quite attractive with its low lateral branches clad with tiny mature brick red flowers. Kunzea sp. [Section 9] displays its small pink globular flower balls along its lateral branches of the semi-prostrate plant. The other side of the small stream where crimson rosellas and wattlebirds bathe Homoranthus flavescens [Section 9] is brilliant with erect clusters of small yellow nectar laden flowers edging the flat topped branches. Kunzea pulchella [Section 9] has vivid red terminal flower clusters among its green-grey foliage of the upright shrub while, opposite, Kunzea ambigua [Section 11] is a prostrate dense shrub bearing fluffy cream flowers.

Take the small path between Sections 9 and 28 passing Chittich, Lambertia inermis [Section 27] a large, dense shrub dotted with orange spider-like tube shaped flowers and a scattering of Dampiera lanceolata [Section 30] with blue flowers on long stems.

Cross the Main Path between Sections 25 and 30, Callistemon citrinus ‘White Anzac’ [Section 25] is a low spreading shrub with lovely white bottlebrush flowers surrounded by red bottlebrushes. In the shade of the branches of the Kurrajong, Brachychiton populneus [Section 30] thomasias include Thomasia paniculata [Section 25] is a small spreading dense shrub bearing sprays of purplish coloured flowers.

Homoranthus flavescens click for larger image

Take the next path to the right where Bauera rubioides [Section 7] is clad in profusion with down- turned pink flowers over the dense shrub. There are many small ‘treaures’ seen from this path. There are kangaroo paws which include a group of yellow and red Anigozanthos flavidus [Section 7] the flowers on long upright stems surrounded by long strappy leaves. Bulbine bulbosa [Section 8] bears its yellow star shaped flowers on long succulent stems surrounded by succulent leaves. Patersonia occidentalis [Section 8] bears its three-petalled purple flowers on upright stems surrounded by short strappy leaves. Thelionema grande [Section 8] is a tufted plant displaying its deep blue flowers on long bare stems while grass tree, Xanthorrhoea glauca [Section 8] in a group are grand plants complete with dark trunks, green grass skirts and flower spikes, some now revealing their tiny white flowers. A group of emu bushes, Eremophila christopheri [Section 302] on the rise are small open shrubs bearing soft mauve bugle shaped flowers. Any path leads down to the café…

The gardens, they give one a good feeling … Barbara Daly.