In Flower This Week A weekly news-sheet prepared by a Gardens volunteer Numbers in brackets [ ] refer to garden bed 'Sections'.

Displayed with the Cape York Exhibition is the lovely Cape York Lily, Curcuma australasica, a member of the ginger family. The large, pleated leaves sheathe the clusters of rosy pink flowers which change to green on ageing. The tuberous stock was roasted and eaten by Aborigines.

Crowea saligna [Section 174] is yet a small plant well covered with thick, waxy pink star-like flowers. Opposite the rainforest of varying shades of green, find Correa `Canes Hybrid' [Section 124]. This low, spreading shrub bears an abundance of delicate pendent tubular flowers shaded pink with cream mouth. Nearby Melaleuca thymifolia [Section 124] displays the first of its fine, lacy flowers. Opposite the lawns Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa [Section 109] is a neat shrub of medium size resplendent with long, cylindrical, golden flower spikes ribbed with red styles.

Towards the Rockery area Callistemon `Glasshouse Country' [Section 110] is an open, graceful shrub with lovely pink bottlebrush flowers. There is much to see in the Rockery and worth finding is Prostanthera porcata [Section 15R] bearing soft pink bugle-shaped flowers on a fairly open shrub. Not so easy to find is a very small Verticordia blepharophylla [Section 15R] with feathery mauve flowers clinging to the stems. Nearby is Diplopeltis huegelii [Section 15R] with low, spreading branches and pink flowers loosely arranged on upright stems.

Acacia baileyana var. purpurea [Section 3], although not yet in flower, is quite a picture, for this small, dense tree is adorned with blue-grey foliage. The new growth is tinted purple. Some wattles in flower include Acacia fauntleroyi [Section 3] with erect trunk well covered with attractive curly bark and on top, spreading branches bearing golden, fluffy flower balls. Acacia uncinata [Section 3] has deep yellow flower balls spaced along the low, arching branches. Acacia iteaphylla [Section 3] is a many- branched tall shrub bearing sprays of soft, lemon flower balls. Although not in flower, Acacia covenyi [Section 3] is a dense, rounded shrub with attractive grey foliage.

Walk through the Eucalypt Lawn where the trees form attractive sunlight- and-shadow patterns on the grass and the laughter of the kookaburras, the chatter of King Parrots and Eastern Rosellas is so enjoyable.

Opposite the Nursery and worth finding is Chloanthes parviflora [Section 44] a low plant with wrinkly leaves concealing the lemon-throated tubular green flowers. Much easier to see is Flannel Flower, Actinotus helianthi [Section 191], with large daisy-like flowers with soft, velvety petals.

So much to enjoy ...

Barbara Daly