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

12 September 1997

Wattles continue to highlight our fine city and these Gardens with glowing yellow flowers. This walk is close to the Visitor Centre where many wattles can be seen. The colourful plants outside the doors include Thryptomene calycina `Coral Lace' with tiny coral-coloured flowers crowded over the graceful terminal branches. Nearby Thryptomene calycina `Ivory Lace' is equally as attractive. Acacia covenyi [Section 225] commonly called Blue Bush because of its blue-green foliage which shares the outer branches with fluffy, golden flower balls.

Draped over the retaining walls of the newer car park, the golden flowers of Cootamundra Wattle, Acacia baileyana [Section 227], are quite dazzling. Along the upper retaining wall, Acacia cultriformis `Austraflora Cascade' [Section 226] is covered with buds which are beginning to explode into golden flower balls. Both plants are prostrate and are better viewed from a lower level. Grevillea dimorpha [Section 226] is a low, open shrub brilliant with bright red flowers clustered along its branches.

Australia's floral emblem, Acacia pycnantha [Section 224], with shiny sickle-shaped foliage is laden with buds now bursting ito large golden flower balls. At its base Grevillea `Scarlet Sprite' [Section 224], a low, neat, rounded shrub, is illuminated with lovely red spider-like flowers. Nearby Correa reflexa var. reflexa [Section 224] reveals its yellow-tipped red tubular flowers pendent from sparse branches. In front of the building, Grevillea diminuta [Section 222] is a low, dense shrub bearing interesting rust-red flowers in pendulous clusters, almost hidden by the dark green foliage. Opposite Westringia crassifolia [Section 221,174] is a small and open plant dotted with delicate mauve flowers. Nearby is Eucalyptus caesia subsp. magna [Section 221], its long arching trunk with bark cracking and peeling, its silver branches falling to ground level and supporting the large, splendid deep pink, dotted yellow flowers ... really magnificent!

Over the road in the Grassy Woodlands area Hardenbergia violacea [Section 175] with deep purple pea flowers, climbs over and beautifies surrounding shrubs. Pomaderris intermedia [Section 175] has large heads of yellow flowers on tall, open branches. Acacia genistifolia [Section 175] is of medium size with needle-like foliage and generously covered with large, cream flower balls. These three plants are seen throughout the local bushland.

Halfway up the stairs Zieria sp.O [Section 221] has a profusion of tiny pink flower clusters which blend with the green-grey foliage.

This sheet is an introduction to many other areas of colour in the Gardens.

Hope you enjoyed this walk.

Barbara Daly.