Astroloma foliosum click for larger image

Banks Walk is quite colourful with flowers including Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 172] a dwarf shrub with golden upright cylindrical flower spikes and, in a pot, Astroloma foliosum, a dense dwarf shrub bright with vivid red tubular flowers tipped with pale green. Grevillea tripartita subsp. macrostylis [Section 210] has long branches with holly-like leaves and unique red-yellow flowers with long red style, protruding through other shrubs. Olearia argophylla [Section 66] arches its branches with clusters of white aromatic flowers over the notice board.

This walk then follows the road beside the far side of the Rainforest, and beyond, so, around the corner in the Rainforest verge Clerodendrum floribundrum var. attenuatum [Section 125] is a tall shrub with white speckled trunk and among its upper foliage dark red button-size calyces with dark centres which followed its white flowers, can be seen. Around the next corner to the right, Banksia spinulosa [Section 126] has bright golden flower spikes to brighten the dense shrub. Further along, Grevillea ‘Poorinda Diadem’ [127] is a large shrub prolific with apricot coloured spider flowers while at the corner Melaleuca fulgens [Section 127] displays its orange coloured bottlebrush-like flowers on soft arching branches. Below the large branches of the grand old Pryon’s Tree, Eucalyptus mannifera is a grouping of Thryptomene ‘Pink Lace’ [Section 10] small dainty shrubs crowned with pink flowers.

Following the road to the left, Westringia longifolia [Section 124] is of medium size, many branched and with pink, almost white flowers. Across the road, an emu- bush, Eremophila maculata subsp. maculata [Section 302] clad with yellow tubular flowers. Rounding the next corner, Correa alba var. alba [Section 124] is dense with silver edged leaves and white star flowers. Edging the Brittle Gum lawn, Grevillea ‘Robyn Gordon’ [Section 109] displays its large terminal red flowers on a low spreading shrub while beside is Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 109] displays its golden flower spikes throughout the shrub. Almost opposite, on the other side of the lawn, Banksia ‘Giant Candles’ [Section 107] is a cultivar of the above and has longer almost red flower spikes. Edging the Rainforest, Acronychia littoralis [Section 114,104] is a large dense shrub with stiff green leaves and clusters of small yellow star flowers. Opposite the triangle garden, Callistemon montanus [Section 104] has branches with attractive red tipped new growth, leaning towards the road. Opposite, in the triangle garden, a Geraldton Wax, Chamelaucium ‘Cascade Brook’ [Section 17] has an abundance of waxy mottled pink flowers to admire.

Banksia marginata click for larger image

Worth while to continue uphill to view the Silver-leaved Mountain Gum, Eucalyptus pulverulenta [Section 36] with silvery grey almost rounded leaves and white fluffy flowers edging the branches of this upright small tree. Beside is Banksia speciosa [Section 36] a tall, dense shrub with long narrow deeply indented leaves and flower spikes of many colours according to age including green-grey mature flowers resembling acorns. From the path up the stairs, Banksia oblongifolia [Section 36] has an abuncance of short pale green flower spikes while Banksia media [Section 36] a rather a misshaped shrub has attractive mustard coloured compact flower spikes. Opposite the covered shelter, a local banksia, Banksia marginata [Section 36] is large and dense with shades of cream to brown flower spikes to brighten the shrub. There are many other banksias to admire in this area. They attract many small birds.

A time to enjoy this ‘cool climate’ walk … Barbara Daly.