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

4 September 1998

The brilliance of the golden wattles are seen throughout the gardens. Grevilleas are becoming quite showy and so are other plants, many of which are seen on this walk along the Main Path. Take a copy of `A walk along the Main Path' from the Visitor Centre and start at the end of the cafe building where Banksia spinulosa var. collina [Section 131] displays its attractive golden cylindrical flower spikes.

Just past the area of Sedges, Grasses and Lillies, see a prostrate form of the Cootamundra Wattle, Acacia baileyana [Section 30] with green-grey foliage well clad with soft golden flower balls. Behind Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 30] is a large shrub radiant with long, gold flower spikes. Opposite and behind other shrubs, see Grevillea rosmarinifolia [Section 30] bears yellow flowers while another plant of Grevillea rosmarinifolia [Section 25], still small, is a picture with its radiating branches clustered with pink and cream spider flowers. Grevillea lanigera [Section 25] is a prostrate plant with spreading branches covered with dark red and cream spider flowers. Crossing the road, Grevillea paniculata [Section 26] is an open, scraggy shrub endowed with perfumed cream flowers.

See the magnificent display of Hardenbergia violacea [Section 112 and elsewhere] a trailing plant so densely covered with deep purple pea flowers Walking through the area of Sydney Region Flora, Grevillea baueri subsp. asperula [Section 191] is quite showy with clusters of erect red flowers. Indigofera australis [Section 191] is open and erect with spikes of purple pea flowers which blend with attractive blue-green foliage. Epacris impressa (Mimosa Rocks form) [Section 191] has small, upright stems laden with red, tubular flowers and below the wall, in front of the seat, Grevillea victoriae [Section 191] with rust red flowers and Grevillea speciosa subsp. speciosa [Section 191] bearing red flowers, both attract the colourful honeyeaters. See, in the rock wall opposite, fossils of the seed-fern Glossopteris ... most interesting. Close by Cryptandra amara [Section 191], is quite small with its branchlets covered with tiny, tubular, white flowers.

Sit awhile and enjoy the serenity of this area then continue, through the Eucalyptus Lawns and a grove of wattles which include the Snowy River wattle, Acacia boormanii [Section 19] with soft, fluffy, yellow flower balls. Inspect the Rock Garden. See Rulingia magniflora [Section 4] with velvet leaves and pink flowers, Guichenotia macrantha [Section 4] with somewhat similar downturned pink flowers and Hovea sp. [Section 4] bearing deep purple pea flowers.

Past the Rainforest Gully and behind the buildings, Chorizema varium [Section 210] is a small shrub bearing lovely orange and cherry coloured pea flowers.

So many flowers to enjoy ...

Barbara Daly.