Scaevola ramosissima click for larger image

Towards the upper level of the stairs to the Information Centre, a Mallee Ash, Eucalyptus langleyi [Section 172] is a young upright tree bearing many buds now opening to cream fluffy flowers.  The wall of orchids inside the Centre are often changed and outside the doors in a pot, Grevillea leptobotrys displays its lovely strands of pink flowers among the entanglement of wiry branches.  Edging Banks Walk plants include Scaevola aemula ‘Aussie Crawl’ [Section 174] a dwarf  compact plant  with deep purple fan-shaped flowers.  Close by is Scaevola albida [Section 174] with smaller pale pink flowers.  In a pot, a kangaroo paw, Anigozanthos rufus ‘Kings Park Federation Flame’ [Section 174] which displays its ‘paw-like’ orange-red hairy flowers on terminal stems. Anigozanthos ‘Bush Dawn’ [Section 210] has yellow flowers.  Many kangaroo paws of varying colours are now flowering in the Gardens including Anigozanthos ‘Big Red’ [Section 210]  bears its attractive vermillion stems and flowers.  Scaevola ramosissima [Section 210] is another floriferous dwarf plant with large purple flowers.

Returning to the lower level Plectranthus sp. [Section 125] is a vigorous herb with grayish velvety leaves and spikes of  tiny blue flowers. Rounding the curve Clerodendrum floribundum var. attenuatum [Section 125] is a tall slender shrub with speckled trunk and terminal clusters of cream buds now opening to white petalled flowers.  Edging the road an orchid, Cymbidium suave [Section 125] rooting on an old tree trunk, is dense with long leaf spikes among which are long arching sprays of tiny brownish-green flowers.  Seen from this road are few tall shrubs, Cuttsia viburnea [Section 125,114] with its many branches crowned with dense clusters of white daisy-like perfumed flowers.

Cuttsia viburnea click for larger image

A corner dense with ground-cover Grevillea ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’ [Section 124] has many toothbrush-like deep red flowers.  Pandorea jasminoides ‘Lady Di’ [Section 124] picturesque with large pink trumpet-like flowers, twines about the trunk of a bottlebrush Callistemon ‘Harkness’ [Section 124] a tall open shrub with red flowers. Grevillea 'Poorinda Diadem' [Section 126] a shrub of medium size bearing apricot coloured spider-like flowers. Rounding the corner on the left side path, Callistemon ‘Little John’ [Section 124] is a medium rounded shrub with dark red bottlebrushes.  Blueberry Ash, Elaeocarpus reticulatus ‘Prima Donna’ [Section 119] has pretty pink downturned frilly flowers in profusion among the foliage of this tall shrub.  Another groundcover, Goodenia ovata [Section 117] covers the rock edge displaying its bright yellow flowers. Almost opposite, an emu-bush, Eremophila ‘Aurea’ [Section  302] has yellow tubular flowers on the small open shrub.

Entering the Brittle Gum lawn, Grevillea ‘Robyn Gordon’ [Section 109] is a low open shrub with divided leaves and large red terminal flowers.  Seen on the far side of the lawn is Grevillea robusta [Section 107], a tall tree open with lateral branches and gold with large flower sprays favoured by many birds.  These trees are also obvious in sections 105 and 78.
A return walk through the cool green Rainforest is a pleasant experience.

The Gardens, a pleasant place to visit …                                         Barbara Daly