Banksias are flowering throughout the Gardens and on this cool sunny (or wet day) will include few of these popular plants. Note that banksias vary in height from prostrate to quite tall and flower spikes also vary in colour often shades of gold, some are even green. 

1. Leaving the Visitors Information Centre, Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 174] is a dwarf spreading shrub brightened with upright cylindrical flower spikes coloured gold with red styles.
2. Close to the sculpture of Joseph Banks, in a pot, Dryandra quercifolia [Section 174] is yet small with toothed leaves and large terminal yellow flower heads.
3. Almost opposite, a mint bush, Prostanthera phylicifolia [Section 210] has a covering of small mauve flowers, seen cascading down the rock wall.
4. Taking the path on the far side of the Rainforest Gully, Grevillea bipinnatifida ‘Jingle Bells’ [Section 124] seems to be more attractive each week.  This standard plant is capped with crinkled divided leaves and large pendular red toned flowers.
5. Grevillea ‘Goldfever’ [Section 124] has apricot coloured spider-like flowers over the low spreading shrub.
6. Edging the Brittle Gum lawn, Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa [Section 109] is alight with maturing gold flower spikes over the medium dense rounded shrub.
7. Edging the lawn, behind Eucalyptus mannifera with white mottled trunk, Banksia ericifolia [Section 109] is an old spreading shrub bearing yellow flower spikes. 
8. Beside, around the corner on the narrow path, Grevilea ‘Robyn Gordon’ [Section 109] has large pendular red flower spikes and many immature flowers.  Follow this narrow path, turning left to continue along the road.
9. In the triangle garden a Geraldton Wax, Chamelaucium ‘Cascade Brook’ [Section 17] is a large spreading shrub, in parts, profuse with pink toned waxy flowers
10. In the opposite corner, concealed by other plants, Banksia integrifolia var. aquilonia [Section  140] is a  tall shrub with long narrow leaves and pale yellow flowers
11. The other corner contains few small shrubs, Crowea ‘Festival’ [Section 123] bearing bright pink star-like flowers.
12. Leaving the Rainforest verge turning right at the stairs where Banksia speciosa [Section 36] is a large spreading shrub with few acorn shaped deep cream flower spikes can be seen among the long narrow indented leaves.
13. Following the path passing Banksia oblongifolia [Section 36] is a smaller shrub laden with small green flower spikes. Here yellow self-seeding straw flowers, Xerochrysum sp. brighten the landscape.
14. At the corner, the Braidwood Waratah, Telopea mongaensis [Section 36] is an upright shrub with terminal out-of-season flowers.
15. Beside is a local banksia, Banksia marginata [Section 36].  It is a large dense shrub profuse with small yellow flowers.
16. Opposite, close to the shelter, Banksia paludosa [Section 37] is also a large shrub bearing yellow with tan styles flowers.
17. Towards the top of these stairs Hakea drupacea [Section 36] is quite tall and well clad with small cream lacy flowers.
18. Taking the path to the left Hakea francisiana [Section 36] is quite tall with long narrow leaves and crowned with long cherry red poker shaped flowers.

At the other end of this path Cryptandra amara subsp. floribunda [Section 40] is a smaller shrub white with tiny flowers. To return, cross the lawn taking the road down from the Ducrou Pavilion.

Barbara Daly.