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

The Gardens continue to be so colourful and aromatic. Waratahs continue to be out- standing in all areas, prostantheras are still showy and this walk meanders anywhere commenting on selected plants among many.

Bordering Banks Walk the large balls of white flowers of Pimelea spectabilis [Section 174] are quite spectacular and Brachyscome `Misty Mauve' [Section 174] with daisies of various shades of mauve are worthy of admiration. Leptospermum `Pink Cascade' [Section 210, 240] is an almost prostrate, spreading plant well covered with open pink flowers. Across the bridge and in front of the cafe building, the brilliance of the curvaceous, glistening red flowers crowded towards the branch terminals of Grevillea johnsonii x wilsonii [Section 240] is obvious. In front, Boronia heterophylla [Section 240] is covered with bright pink cup shaped, perfumed flowers.

Past the buildings Melaleuca fulgens [Section 11] is an open shrub bearing few cherry red bottlebrush-like flowers. Kunzea obovata [Section 11] is a rounded shrub covered with small furry balls of mauve flowers ... just lovely. Wander along this narrow path to the road beside which is Calothamnus quadrifidus [Section 9], an open plant with interesting red flower spikes grouped on one side of the stem. The soft, pine-like foliage is also attractive. Crossing this road see Baeckea ramosissima [Section 30], a heath-like plant, almost prostrate and clad with small five petalled pink, almost white flowers. In front the Gymea Lily, Doryanthes excelsa [Section 8] with long sward-like leaves, displays its red flower clusters, arrogantly, on top of maybe, 4 m. high stems. Waratahs, still brilliant, include Telopea `Doug's Hybrid' [Section 30] and Telopea mongaensis [Section 30], both with their brilliant red flowers. But see, behind, Telopea `Red Ned' [Section 30]. Just one stem with just one exquisite flower! Such a picture is Bauera rubioides [Section 7] with open, many-petalled, mixed pink flowers covering this large shrub. See Prostanthera sp. aff. denticulata [Section 6] edging the upper road. This mint bush is prostrate, dense with pale violet flowers.

This area of many grevilleas includes Grevillea wilsonii [Section 27] a low, sprawling plant with an entanglement of finely divided leaves and attractive with clusters of erect, vivid scarlet flowers. Around the corner, seen majestically above the bushy grevilleas is another waratah, tall, many branched and presenting many of its large red flowers. It is Telopea mongaensis x speciosissima [Section 27].

In this colourful corner Kunzea parvifolia [Section 12] is dense with pink, fluffy flowers, Calytrix tetragona [Section 12] has sprays of white, star-like flowers and opposite, Pomaderris apetala [Section 31] is a tall, open shrub clad with plumes of soft lemon flowers.

Such interesting, colourful gardens ...

Barbara Daly.