In Flower This Week
A weekly news sheet prepared by a Gardens' volunteer.
Numbers in square brackets [ ] refer to garden bed Sections. Plants in flower are in bold type.
View past issues of 'In Flower This Week'.
19 August 2011
Darwinia macrostegia click for larger image |
The display of orchids inside the Visitors Information Centre is colourful and varied. Outside the doors the native rhododendron, Rhododendron viriosum conceals few of its dark red bell-shaped flowers among the glossy green leaves and throughout the gardens wattles glow golden.
Edging Banks Walk a wattle, Acacia gordonii [Section 174] is of medium size with outstretched branches crowded with tiny leaves and yellow flower balls. Epacris longiflora [Section 174] has narrow cream tube shaped flowers in line, pendent from the long wandering stems. Darwinia macrostegia [Section 174] is interesting with pendular claret toned slim cone shaped buds on the open shrub. Across the road, the limbs of the Snowy River wattle, Acacia boormanii [Section 210] are clad with fine leaves and soft golden flower balls, while behind the seat Woollsia pungens [Section 174] covers the terminal branches with tiny white flowers. At its base Epacris ‘Nectar Pink’ [Section 174], is a small fairly dense shrub pretty with pink tube flowers with a white mouth. Almost opposite a mint bush, Prostanthera phylicifolia [Section 210] is a dense long flowering shrub profuse with pink flowers, falling over the rockface. In a pot Darwinia oldfieldii [Section 210] is a low spreading shrub with branches crowded with small leaves and terminal red flower heads.
Taking the road on the far side of the Rainforest, Banksia spinulosa var. collina [Section 128] bears few yellow cylindrical upright flower spikes while Grevillea rosmarinifolia ‘Rosy Posy’ [Section 128] in a group, are small shrubs bearing dangling clusters of red-cream flowers. Twining among these plants, is a False Sarsaparilla, Hardenbergia violacea, [Section 128] clad with purple pea-shaped flowers. Dagger wattle, Acacia siculiformis [Section 128] is an upright, rather stiff shrub with aromatic soft fluffy flower balls. Around the corner the Q’ld Silver Wattle, Acacia podalyriifolia [Section 126] has grey-green foliage mixing with clusters of soft fluffy flower balls.
Follow the Main Path to the next crossing. A pot contains Isopogon asper [Section 24], a dwarf shrub with leaf clad branches and many flat, button size flowers coloured from red centred cream to pink to dark red. Opposite, Grevillea ‘Lady O’[Section 26] is a low shrub with arching branches clad with red spider-like flowers. Taking the road to the right where Hakea ‘Winter Burgundy’[Section 26] is upright and so brilliant with its globular cherry coloured flowers hugging the terminal branches. There too, is Banksia marginata ‘Cape Patterson Dwarf’ [Section 26] bearing bright yellow flower spikes. Along this road are Grevillea lavandulacea [Section 26](16) an upright shrub with grey foliage and dark red buds. Grevillea baueri [Section 26] is a low shrub with long lateral branches profuse with red-cream flowers. Grevillea ‘Nana’ [Section 26] another small plant bearing yellow flowers. Grevillea irrasa subsp. didymochiton [Section 26] is a large dense shrub with powdery red spider flowers scattered among the foliage.
Grevillea floribunda subsp. floribunda click for larger image |
Towards the end of this road Grevillea floribunda subsp. floribunda [Section 26] is decorated with dangling rods of rust red powdery flowers over the open upright shrub. Taking the road to the left, Dryandra squarrosa subsp. squarrosa [Section 26] reveals its yellow fluffy flower heads on long branches, seen among other shrubs. Return along the path to the left above the Main Path. Notice Helichrysum elatum [Section 21] erect dense herb with many grey-green woolly stems and terminal white woolly flower heads. Return to café at the end of this road following the notice boards.
A cool, refreshing walk … Barbara Daly.