The walk this week follows the Main Path passing among the magnificent tree trunks of the eucalypts, the Sydney Basin Flora to the Rock Garden and the Rainforest.  It starts at the end of the Ellis Rowan Garden.

1. Firstly, edging the stairs to the Visitors Centre, view Eucalyptus langleyi [Section 172] pretty with soft flower balls (resembling cotton wool balls] along the branches of this young tree.
2. Follow the path and opposite the bed of yellow daisies’ Kangaroo Paws, Anigozanthos flavidus [Section 8] have matt green flowers on tall upright stems. (Kangaroo paws are now seen throughout the gardens).
3. A tea-tree, Leptospermum ‘Rudolph’ [Section 30] is showy with a coverage of green centred rich pink flowers.
4. Banksia blechnifolia [Section 30 and elsewhere] is a dense prostrate plant with upright deeply lobed leaves with the juvenile leaves a tan colour and dusky red flower spikes, all appearing to sit on the ground.
5. Grevillea treueriana [Section 30] is a low open shrub with bright red toothbrush-like flowers slightly pendent from the lateral branches.
6. Geebung, Persoonia chamaepitys [Section 27] is a dense groundcover bright with tiny tube-shaped yellow flowers
7. Grevillea polybotrya [Section 26] has a long upright stem tipped with clusters of cream flower rods, rising above short strappy leaves.
8. Arriving at the Sydney Region Gully greeted and farewelled, by beds of flannel flowers, Actinotus helianthi [Section 191h, 191s] with soft greyish leaves and attractive daisy- like cream flannel flowers.  There too is Scaevola ramosissima [Section 191h] a small spreading plant with vivid purple fan-shaped flowers.
9. At the corner of the path to the hot-house Scaevola albida [Section 191j] is a dense spreading plant with small mauve fan-shaped flowers.
10. At another corner, Melaleuca thymifolia [Section 191e] is a dense upright plant with clusters of small lacy lilac flowers.
11. In the Display garden Christmas Bells, Blandfordia grandiflora [Section 191u] displays its spectacular bell shaped flowers coloured orange-red atop bare stems.
12. Across the Eucalyptus Lawn down to the Rock Garden also with colourful flowers.  At the entry, in pots are Pussytails, Ptilotus exaltatus var. semilanatus [Section 15r] with upright fluffy magenta flowers.
13. Crossing to the Rainforest Gully Blueberry Ash, Elaeocarpus reticulatus, [Section 148] drapes its branches clad with small cream frilly bells over the back of the seat.
14. Edging the ramp, Kangaroo Paw, Anigozanthos ‘Big Red’ [Section 210] displays its brilliant red ‘paw’ shaped flowers.
15. Almost opposite Cassinia leptocephala [Section 210] displays its large bright yellow flower heads on long upright stems.

Barbara Daly.