This walk following the Main Path passes by many plants in bud and some now in flower. It commences at the far end of the Café building and roams among the eucalypts, the Sydney Basin, the Rock Garden and the Rainforest.

1. A wattle, Acacia alata var. biglandulosa [Section 240], is attractive with its small cream flower balls attached to the odd zig- zag stems of this dense medium shrub.
2. Following the main path, Astartea ‘Winter Pink’ [Section 10] is a neat upright plant with tiny pink flowers.
3. Close by, a Thryptomene sp. [Sections 10, 9] is a larger shrub, also with tiny pink flowers.
4. Continue along this path where a prostrate form of the Cootamundra Wattle, Acacia baileyana [Section 30], is well clad with buds now opening to its renowned golden flowers.
5. Beside is Banksia ericifolia [Section 30], a large spreading shrub with upright cylindrical golden flower spikes.
6. Grevillea saccata [Section 30] drapes its arching branches over the edge of the pot. The branches terminate in dusky red flowers with yellow-tipped styles.
7. Almost opposite, Banksia heliantha [Section 30] is a low-growing plant with large disc-shaped yellow flower heads among the oak-like leaves.
8. Nearby is Banksia ‘Honeypots’ [Section 30], displaying honey-coloured flower spikes on this open shrub.
9. Banksia spinulosa var. neoanglica [Section 25] is a rounded shrub radiant with yellow flower spikes.
10. Crowded beside is Grevillea dimorpha [Section 25], having its rust red flowers attached to the long upright stems.
11. Across the next road, Grevillea ‘LadyO’ [Section 26] is forever showy, now profuse with red flowers over the long arching branches.
12. It is overlooked by Hakea ‘Winter Burgundy’ [Section 26], a tall shrub with pinkish globular flowers high up amid its foliage.
13. Grevillea centristigma [Section 26] is a small open plant with soft hairy leaves. Its flowers are yellow, seen below the leaves.
14. Across the next road Correa ‘Marian’s Marvel’ [Section 112] is quite dense with pink-yellow tube-shaped flowers.
15. At the corner a vine, Hardenbergia violacea [Section 112 and elsewhere], with purple pea-shaped flowers winds itself around other plants.
16. Cross over to the Sydney Basin.  There is little in flower yet but the lovely wattles include Acacia terminalis [Section 191h], clad with yellow fluffy flower balls.
17. At the turn-off to the glasshouses Black-eyed Susan, Tetratheca thymifolia [Section 191j], is a low dense plant with a few downturned pink flowers with dark centres.
18. Towards the exit, at the circular seat, Crowea saligna [Section 191u] displays its lovely bright pink star-shaped flowers on the low dense plant.
19. The path wanders through the Eucalyptus Lawn down through few flowering wattles then to an area of hakeas including Hakea purpurea [Section 20], an upright spindly shrub with tiny red tubular flowers in clusters among the foliage.
20. The Rock Garden has many flowers, including Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 15v] seen in front of the waterfall.
21. Across the road a patch of Grevillea lanigera [Section 15c] so bright with its red spider-like flowers over this groundcover.

The path continues through the Rainforest, a leafy cool place to wander. You can then walk down the ramp, where there are other flowers to enjoy.

Barbara Daly