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

As the newly constructed Main Path is now complete, this walk will follow its course. Between the large rocks at the beginning of the walk the grey, almost white, foliage of some plants is most apparent. Particularly note Leucophyta brownii [Section 210] with its long branches extending along the ground. Then follow the boardwalk between the tree tops of the Rainforest. Enjoy the beauty of the varying shades and textures of the foliage. Marvel at the design of the large fronds of the tree ferns below the path.

Out into the warm wintery sun, see Banksia aemula [Section 16] which is quite a dense shrub with serrated leaves and cream-coloured cylindrical flower spikes. Crowea `Festival' [Section 16] is neat and rounded with terminal red branches and pink star flowers. Take time, here to discover the beauties throughout the Rockery area, but first, in front of the waterfall, marvel at the miniature Banksia `Birthday Candles' [Section 15]. Most plants display an attractive yellow flower spike tinged with red styles. Sharing the garden bed is Crowea exalata [Section 15], a prostrate form bearing small pink star flowers and Correa reflexa `Carpenters Rock' [Section 15], a small, open plant decorated with red tubular flowers with yellow tips.

Pass by an area of hakeas, spotting, in the background, Hakea sericea [Section 20] with a cover of tiny pink lacy flowers over a tall shrub with an abundance of dark fruits. The wattles, forming a gateway to the Eucalypt Lawn, are still in tight bud awaiting spring. The trees dotting the lawns have an interesting variety of trunks, some mottled grey, others with deeply grooved bark, all worth noticing. The next area is that of the Sydney Region Flora where the path winds through a newly planted section. Flannel Flowers, Actinotus helianthi [Section 191], with velvety white, daisy-like flowers on long stalks continue to flower. Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa [Section 191] bears golden cylindrical flower spikes, on one shrub ribbed with dark styles, on another with red styles. Platysace lanceolata [Section 191] is low and dense with clusters of tiny white flowers dotted over the dark green foliage. Over the rock wall in front of the seat, see Grevillea victoriae [Section 191] with orange red pendent flowers on a still small shrub. The view over this gully is lovely, likewise a stroll along the older paths.

The path winds through the older sections where grevilleas and banksias are in flower. Banksia integrifolia var. integrifolia [Section 30] is a tall shrub with short lemon flower spikes mingling with silver-backed foliage. And at the corner of the cafe building, Correa reflexa `Maroonda Tricolour' [Section 240] reveals its delightful array of tubular flowers coloured red, yellow and green. So, across the bridge Crowea saligna [Section 174] with bright, waxy pink flowers and waxy, light green leaves covering this small plant is the selected prize to end the Main Path walk.

A most enjoyable walk ...

Barbara Daly