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

3 July 1998

Follow the Main Path and cross over the Rainforest Gully by way of the foot bridge where you can look down to see the numerous tree ferns growing very well. Coming to the Cafe corner garden Adenanthos cunninghamii [Section 245] is growing with its grey-green foliage tipped pink to red. At the corner of the Ellis Rowan building is Banksia spinulosa var. collina [Section 131] with lots of little birds feeding in amongst its upright, golden flower spikes. Melaleuca linarifolia var. linarifolia [Section 10] has its beautiful bark tinged pink and green, the sight of which makes one appreciate the common name of paperbark.

Arriving at the Grasses and Sedges Section, Lepidosperma effusum [Section 8] is one of those clumping type plants with small brown flowering heads. On the opposite side of the path a little further on is Xanthorrhoea glauca subsp. glauca [Section 8] with two black flower spikes standing straight and tall while the third is almost bent in an `n' shape. On the right hand side of the path is Crowea `Festival' [Section 30] with its deep pink flowers. A little further along, is Crowea `Pink Blush' [Section 30] with deep pink buds and flowers which open to a much paler pink. Cryptandra scortechinii [Section 25] is presently covered in brown buds making it very attractive even before opening up its white flowers in spring. Platysace lanceolata [Section 25] has white terminal flowers not all of which are completely open yet.

Further along the Main Path in the Sydney Region Flora, Banksia serrata [Section 191] with its nobby cones is a magnificent speciment of this very large shrub and close to it is Banksia aemula [Section 191] with lovely green flower spikes. Both these plants had honey-eaters darting in and out of them. Acacia cognata [Section 19] is in bud, its pendulous growth habit makes a very graceful plant.

The main path then wanders past the Rock Garden to the Conifer Loop where you can see Athrotaxis cupressoides [Section 16] which is a very slow growing plant. Do take time to read the information on the sign in front of this plant as it is well worth the few minutes. Araucaria cunninghamii [Section 80], commonly known as the Hoop Pine, is another tree to take notice of though it is not as slow growing as Athrotaxis cupressoides. Podocarpus elatus [Section 80] is also a tall tree though this one is particularly dense.

The walk back to the Visitor Centre could be through the Rainforest Gully with all its different shades of the colour green and shapes of leaves, by the path which leads down the hill towards the Cafe and then on to the Visitor Centre.

Enjoy,

Naomi Bell