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

28 November 1997

See the magnificent flax-like plant opposite the door of the Visitor Centre. Commonly called Wedding Lily, Dietes robinsoniana [Section 212] is endemic to Lord Howe Island and has large, leathery sword-shaped leaves with showy white flowers on long stems.. These flowers open from the tip of the stem downwards; each flower is shortlived but stems may bear many flowers.

The glowing red bottlebrush flowers of callistemons are prevalent. Likewise varying shades of kangaroo paws are beginning to flower. An attractive yellow-flowering kangaroo paw, Anigozanthos `Bush Dawn' [Section 168] enhances the carpark rock wall and a pink form of Anigozanthos flavidus [Section 212] beside Anigozanthos `Red Cross' [Section 212] with flowers on long stems, is most attractive.

In the colourful Display Garden, Pycnosorus globosus (previously Craspedia globosa) [Section 174] presents its globular yellow flower heads on erect stems. In the triangular garden, Leptospermum `Rhiannon' [Section 60] is a neat shrub with green centred, deep pink open flowers. Across the bridge overlooking a fascinating display of green fronds of the treeferns Dicksonia antarctica [Sections 66, 67] see, in front of the Cafe, Cheiranthera cyanea var. cyanea [Section 244] a very small plant with large, vivid blue flowers. Hibbertia stellaris [Section 244] is also small and bears bright orange flowers. Maybe a visit to the Cafe Pond [Section 137] to view Eastern Water Dragons, Physignathus lesuerii, which are quite fascinating. Then Callistemon citrinus `Splendens' [Section 240] splendidly displays its red bottlebrush flowers. Nearby Grevillea johnsonii x Grevillea wilsonii [Section 240] has clusters of waxy red curvaceous flowers. In another small garden, see forms of the popular Geraldton Wax flowers, Chamelaucium uncinatum `Lady Jennifer' [Section 240] bearing clusters of maroon-centred open pink flowers and Chamelaucium uncinatum `Bundara Excelsior' [Section 240] an open plant with deeper pink flowers.

Because of the hot weather, relax in the Rainforest Gully. Walk between the large trunks of the treeferns, Dicksonia antarctica [Section 145, 144] Soft Treefern and Cyathea cooperi [Section 145, 144] Scaly Treefern. See Doryanthes palmeri [Section 147] Spear Lily, with long sword-like leaves and Helmholtzia glaberrima [Section 145, 144] Stream Lily, a flax-like plant also with long sword-like leaves yet with only few long stems of tightly closed flower buds. Finish in the hot sunshine, to admire Leptospermum rotundifolium`Aphrodite' [Section 210] well covered with fiery pink flowers.

So much in flower ...

Barbara Daly.