Leucopogon microphyllus var. microphyllus click for larger image

The orchid display in the Visitors Information Centre is continuously changing and is forever colourful. Banks Walk is also colourful as are those in the Rock Garden. 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 Rock Garden waterfall.

In a clockwise direction, at the foot of the stairs, Grevillea lanigera [Section 15c] is a semiprostrate dense spreading plant well covered with pink flowers. Beside is Leucopogon microphyllus var. microphyllus [Section 15c] a small shrub sprinkled with tiny white flowers about the dark foliage. Behind is the Gymea Lilly, Doryanthes excelsa [Section 15c], with large sword shaped leaves and long upright stems with yet tight buds. Edging the stairs, Banksia integrifolia subsp. integrifolia [Section 15c] is dense with silver backed leaves, cream cylindrical upright flower spikes and many pencil slim green juvenile spikes. Opposite is Correa ‘Ivory Bells’ [Section 15d], a dense rounded shrub laden with many bell shaped flowers. Beside is Banksia ‘Honeypots’[Section 15d] displaying its honey coloured flower spikes on this dwarf upright shrub. Beside is Adenanthos obovatus [Section 15d] a small upright open plant with its unique open red flowers.

Hypocalymma xanthopetalum [Section 15f] has small feathery yellow flowers. Grevillea lanigera [Section 15h] here, falls down the slope with a wattle, Acacia pravissima ‘Kuranga Cascade’[Section 15h] not yet in flower. Around the corner Micromyrtus ciliata [Section 15g] are small attractive shrubs clad with brick red buds which will mature to small white flowers. Returning to the base of the stairs where Westringia glabra [Section 15a] bears small pink flowers on a dense shrub. Beside the stairs, Grevillea ‘Mason’s Hybrid’[Section 15h] is a large ageing shrub with large terminal orange-lemon flower clusters on the long branches.

From the top road Rulingia luteiflora [Section 15h] is of medium size with branches clad with tiny yellow flowers. Close by Grevillea iaspicula [Section 15h], also of medium size with stems clad with buds opening to pink-cream flower clusters. At the corner Cryptandra sp. [Section 15h] has a covering of tiny cream buds over the small dense shrub. Passing the corner an emubush, Eremophila youngii [Section 15j] has dusky red tubular flowers mixing with the grey-green foliage. After this next corner of grass trees, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii [Section 15,14] with their green grass skirts continue to the far end of the section, returning along the lower path.

Along this path small plants include Thryptomene denticulata [Section 14] has arching branches, pink with tiny flowers and Baeckea crassifolia [Section 14] with tiny pink flowers edging the small upright branches. Eucalyptus pachyphylla [Section 14] is a small tree now clad with lemon fruits which followed the yellow flowers. Eremophilla subfloccosa [Section 14]is a low spreading shrub dense with hairy foliage between which are lime green tubular flowers. Beside the seat Grevillea sp. [Section 14] with long branches hugging the ground and bears cream-red toothbrush-like flowers.

Grevillea maxwellii click for larger image

At the next corner Banksia ' Birthday Candles’ [Section 15l] is a dwarf dense spreading shrub profuse with golden flower spikes resembling ‘candles’. Opposite, Grevillea maxwellii [Section 15p] is a semiprostrate plant which tends to conceal its red flower clusters beneath the foliage. Behind is Dryandra tenuifolia [Section 15p] a small shrub with pale yellow flower heads which are seen among the adjoining shrubs.

In front of the waterfall and ponds, Guichenotia ledifolia [Section 4] is a neat and rounded shrub with grey foliage and mauve downturned flowers .

The next downward path will continue to the café.

A cold but interesting walk about the Rock Garden … Barbara Daly