Acacia terminalis click for larger image

This week we will concentrate on the magnificent wattles in bloom in the gardens. As you leave the Visitors’ Information Centre notice on the left the first of our wonderful wattles, Acacia boormanii [Section 210] with fluffy yellow blossoms and light linear foliage. Further along on the right are the prominent golden balls of Acacia gordonii [Section 174]. Bear left up the hill and pause to see on the right Grevillea rosmarinifolia ‘Rosy Posy’ [Section 124] with pink flowers on an open bush with prickly foliage. Behind the grevillea is Hardenbergia violacea [Section 124] a mass of purple flowers amongst upright leathery foliage. Also on the right is Pimelea cremnophila [Section 124] with tiny cream flowers on arching light green foliage.

Continue past the Brittle Gum Lawn to see on the right Epacris calvertiana var. calvertiana [Section 17], cream tubes on a compact bush. Behind the epacris is a large airy bush with five petalled pink flowers with dark centres, Chamelaucium ‘Cascade Brook’ [Section 17]. On the left as you turn into the Family Proteaceae Section is Banksia speciosa [Section 36] with long toothed foliage and attractive brushes of pale yellow and grey. Up the steps on the left is another banksia worth noticing Banksia oblongifolia [Section 36] with short greenish cones on a medium sized bush. Do not miss on the right a few steps along the lower path a magnificent tree in full bloom, Acacia terminalis [Section 36] , with bright yellow balls on fine ferny foliage. Continue along the upper path to see more wattles in bloom.

On the right is Acacia pravissima [Section 2] a small wattle with close triangular foliage and bright yellow balls of flower. Bear right past another brilliant stand of Acacia boormanii [Section 1] to see on the left Acacia cognata [Section 1] with light weeping foliage with pale yellow balls. Turn right down the hill. On your right is Acacia covenyi [Section 3] or Blue Bush with bluish grey foliage contrasting with yellow balls. On your left is Acacia parvipinnula [Section 18] a tree with pale yellow balls on bipinnate foliage and further on the left on the corner is Acacia ingramii [Section 18] with beautiful fine pendent foliage and bright yellow balls. A small neat bush on the left is Acacia cognata ‘Bower Beauty’ [Section 18] with large golden balls. Also on the left is Acacia subulata [Section 18] a long blooming species with bright yellow balls on fine bipinnate foliage. On the left is Acacia meiantha [Section 18] a small bush with masses of fluffy yellow balls on fine foliage. Also on the left Acacia aphylla [Section 18] has gold balls on leafless stems and Acacia brunioides subsp. brunioides [Section 18] is a small bush with cream balls.

Grevillea corrugata click for larger image

It is hard to ignore on the right a large bush with bursts of white flowers, Grevillea vestita [Section 22]. Turn downhill to the right past another grevillea in full bloom, Grevillea corrugata [Section 24] with prolific white flowers on fine green foliage. Finally on the left is the NSW Waratah or Telopea speciosissima [Section 26] with pale red torches on long stems. Go back down the hill to the Visitors Information Centre and café.

Rosalind Walcott