Spring flowers in the Gardens are breathtaking, including those in the Rock Garden which is the focus of this walk.  To arrive there, follow the road on the far side of the Rainforest Gully and turn right at its intersection with the Main Path to reach the Rock Garden waterfall.

1. In a clockwise direction at the base of the stairs, Hibbertia serpyllifolia [Section 15c] is a low, long-branched shrub with yellow-petalled flowers.
2. Gymea Lily, Doryanthes excelsa [Section 15c] has a head of red flowers on a very long stem surrounded by long strappy leaves.
3. Hibbertia pedunculata [Section 15d] is a groundcover clinging to rocks. Its flowers are also yellow.
4. Up the stairs, the large shrub clad with white lacy flowers is Grevillea manglesii subsp. ornithopoda [Section 15d].
5. Close by is Copper Cups, Pileanthus vernicosus [Section 15d], a small open shrub with coppery red flowers.
6. Kangaroo Paws, Anigozanthos ‘Regal Claw’ [Section 15d], reveal their paw-like reddish-green flower heads on long bare stems.
7. The large many-branched shrub clad with small white-petalled flowers across the path is Leptospermum variabile [Section 15c].
8. Not to be missed is Banksia blechnifolia [Section 15d], a prostrate plant dense with long upright deeply-lobed tough leaves. It has many upright cylindrical flower spikes coloured dusky red, all arising from the ground.
9. Verticordia galeata [Section 15f] are dwarf dense shrubs covered with yellow feathery flowers.
10. Their immature green wavy flower spikes and older brown spikes of the Grass Trees, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii [Section15f], are displayed above the “grass skirt” of their leaves.
11. At the base of the stairs, Bulbine glauca [Section 15a] is a succulent plant with terminal yellow star-like flowers on long stems surrounded by linear leaves.
12. Climbing the stairs, Grevillea ‘Mason’s Hybrid’ [Section 15h] is a spreading old shrub with long branches clad with terminal clusters of red-shaded flowers.
13. Edging the top road, Anigozanthos flavidus [Section 15h] has long stems with terminal red flowers.
14. Scaevola albida [Section 15h] has mauve fan-shaped flowers over the mounded plants.
15. Thomasia petalocalyx [Section 15h] has a profusion of small downturned pink flowers over the dense shrub.
16. Around the next corner, Homoranthus prolixus [Section 15j] is attractive with branches clad with flattened terminal gold perfumed flower spikes falling over the rock wall.
17.  Continue downward to where, in a pot, Verticordia pennigera [Section 15r] is a low shrub dense with pink feathery flowers. It shares space with another Verticordia galeata, dense with yellow flowers.
18. Behind is Senecio linearifolius var. dangarensis [Section 15r], an upright plant with sprays of yellow flowers on long stems.
19. Close by is Labichea lanceolata subsp. lanceolata [Section 15r], bearing yellow flowers with petals marked with a red dot.
20. Alyogyne huegelii ’West Coast Gem’ [Section 15r] is of similar size and bright with purple hibiscus flowers.
21. At the bottom of this path turn to the left to view Kunzea pulchella [Section 15r], a dense large shrub beautified with stumpy red bottlebrush flowers.

Opposite is a fenced area containing a variety of colourful daisies. Then head back to the waterfall to admire its beauty... or follow the road up to the newly-opened Red Centre Garden.

Barbara Daly