Acacia myrtifolia click for larger image

Leave the Visitors’ Information Centre to notice on the right the prominent golden balls of Acacia gordonii [Section 174]. Further along is the highly fragrant Woollsia pungens [Section 174] with clusters of white flowers on close spiky foliage. On the left is Pomaderris obcordata [Section 210] with small pink clusters of flowers on neat foliage. Just before the bridge notice the unusual wattle on the right, Acacia myrtifolia [Section 174], with pale yellow balls on dark green foliage with red stems.

Follow the Main Path across the bridge and skirt the café. Continue past the Ellis Rowan Garden noticing on the right Grevillea rhyolitica [Section 240] with bright red pendulous flowers on yellow-green foliage. Continue on the Main Path loop up the hill. On the left is Thryptomene sp. [Section 10] with arching sprays of tiny pink flowers. Also on the left is Grevillea ‘Flame ‘n Beauty’ [Section 25] with drooping pink flowers with long red styles on grey spiky foliage. On the right is the silver backed green foliage and golden yellow brushes of Banksia spinulosa [Section 27]. Further along on the left is the Green Grevillea or Grevillea jephcottii [Section 25] with pale lime flowers on darker green foliage. Birds love this grevillea.

Cross the road noticing on the right a neat plant of Grevillea ‘Lady O’ [Section 26]. This grevillea with bright red flowers was developed locally by Peter Ollerenshaw of Bywong Nursery and named after his mother. On the right is Hakea ‘Winter Burgundy’ [Section 26] which bears soft pink balls of spidery flowers on a tall spare bush. Also on the right is Grevillea lavandulacea [Section 26] with deep red flowers contrasting strongly with the grey foliage. Another grevillea on the right is Grevillea dielsiana [Section 26] with prominent orange/red blooms on spiky foliage. Further on the right is yet another grevillea in bloom, Grevillea corrugata [Section 26] with white bursts of flowers on fine green foliage.

Turn up the hill towards the Eucalypt Lawn and then left along the road. Grevillea vestita [Section 22] is another grevillea with clusters of white flowers on light green foliage. On the left is a lightly foliaged tree with racemes of white flowers, the Willow Needlewood or Hakea macraeana [Section 20] . On the right handside are three wattles worth seeing. Acacia ingramii [Section 18] with very large fluffy yellow balls on linear green foliage. Acacia aphylla [Section 18] has smaller gold balls on leafless stems and Acacia meiantha [Section 18] is a small bush with masses of small yellow balls on fine foliage. Rejoin the Main Path Loop to the left to see on the left side Hakea purpurea [Section 20] with bright pink flowers on a very prickly bush.

Gastrolobium celsianum click for larger image

Go straight ahead down the steps through the Rock Garden to see on the right the Swan River Pea or Gastrolobium celsianum [Section 15r] a sprawly bush with red beaked flowers on grey green foliage. Opposite the waterfall on the left is Guichenotia ledifolia [Section 4] with dusky pink bells hanging from a grey bush in a delightful contrast of colours. Continue left down the hill towards the cafe at the Rainforest Gully. On the left is a neat low bush with yellow flowers, Grevillea ‘Goldfever’ [Section 124] , another Bywong Nursery introduction. Our last plant today is on the left, the Dagger Wattle or Acacia siculiformis [Section 124] , a stiff small tree with yellow balls on inconspicuous pointed foliage.

Rosalind Walcott