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

29 May 1998

Included in the pots outside the Visitor Centre are Pityrodia dilitata which has orange tubular flowers amid the grey-green foliage and Verticordia blepharophylla bearing terminal clusters of tiny, fluffy mauve flowers. In front of the building, Hakea crassinervia [Section 221] is a low growing plant with clusters of lovely globular reddish-pink flowers with cream styles along the extending branches. Edging the rock wall by the bus stop, Chrysocephalum apiculatum [Section 174] has dense green foliage dotted with heads of small yellow flowers which blend well with the soft, fine foliage of Brachyscome multifida `Roulette' [Sectionn 174] dotted with small mauve daisies. Scaevola albida [Section 174], also low growing, bears small, white fan flowers. Seen from above, Templetonia retusa [Section 174] displays eyecatching large, red pea flowers along its tall, upbright branches.

Cross the bridge overlooking the large Soft Treeferns, Dicksonia antartica [Section 66] with long, radiating fronds andsee, in front of the cafe building, Correa alba [Section 131] with small silver-edged leaves and white star flowers. Melaleuca `Little Beauty' [Section 131] is a very small plant brightened with mauve, lacey flowers. Bracteantha bracteata `Dargan Hill Monarch' [Section 131], with grey-green leaves looks splendid with a dense covering of large yellow-centered white ever-lasting daisies. At the end of the building, flowering banksias include Banksia spinulosa var. collina [Section 131] bearing upright cylindrical, gold flower spikes and in front of the Banks Building, Banksia `Giant Candles' [Section 143] glows with elongated rich golden flower spikes.

Take a walk along the mossy green path below the arching lichen-covered branches of old melaleucas. Then compare the numerous banksias which include Banksia ericifolia x Banksia spinulosa [Section 28] with gold flower heads amid the many spent grey heads, Banksia conferta var. conferta [Section 28], a small tree with cream flower spikes and Banksia occidentalis [Section 28], tall and open with a few bright red flower spikes ... and all the time the tiny Blue Wrens seem to bounce over the leaf litter.

Take time now to absorb the tranquility of the Sydney Region Flora plantings. Walking along the far side of the gully, Epacris sp. aff. impressa [Section 191], an undescribed species related to Victoria`s floral emblem, is radiant with pendant flame- red, tubular flowers clustered along the straggly branches. Correa spinulosa var. spinulosa [Section 191] is lovely with dark gold flower spikes ribbed with dark styles, Epacris pulchella [Section 191] has white star flowers and Crimson Rosellas are skeletalising the fronds of the tree ferns . Then find the spectacle of Leptospermum squarrosum [Section 191] with branches crowded with soft pink `peach blossom' flowers, bordering the footpath.

So enjoyable ...

Barbara Daly.