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

18 December 1998

Eucalyptus curtisii [Section 221], beside the steps to the Visitor Centre, is a small tree clad with clusters of attractive cream lacey flowers. Colourful kangaroo paws and red bottlebrushes are flowering well throughout the gardens, however this walk will concentrate on flowers in the Rock Garden.

At the base of the stairs the Gymea Lily, Doryanthes excelsa [Section 15C], continues to be spectacular with large sword-like leaves surrounding an elongated, upright flower spike topped with a large cluster of red flowers. This plant is seen better from the top road. Bulbine vagans [Section 15C], a bulbous plant with succulent, narrow leaves, is bright with star-like, yellow flowers along upright stems. Across the path, Hibbertia pedunculata [Section 15D] is a semi-prostrate plant dotted with yellow flowers. A medium size shrub nearby, Lomatia tinctoria [Section 15D] bears well designed, perfumed cream flowers and above is the fascinating Grass Tree, Xanthorrhoea johnsonii [Section 15D, 15F], with spear-like flower spike, white with flowers, surrounded by a green skirt of long, arching leaves. Chrysocephalum apiculatum [Section 15D], in the foreground, has dazzling orange terminal clusters of small daisies in an entanglement of soft green foliage.

Dampiera stricta [Section 15F] is a suckering plant crammed between rocks, with its soft mauve-blue flowers displayed on top of erect stems. Verticordia pennigera [Section 15F] is a small shrub about 12 years old, with a tattered old trunk and beautiful with pink, feathery flower clusters. Around the corner Banksia repens [Section 15F], creeping onto the path, has velvety rust-coloured young leaves and flower spikes of a similar colour on this prostrate plant.

Looking upwards, Arthropodium milleflorum [Section 15H] has small, almost white fragrant flowers along long, arching stems, a kangaroo paw, Anigozanthos sp. [Section 15H], has copper-coloured flowers on long stems, and Derwentia arenaria [Section 15H] is a small shrub with deep blue flowers on short upright spikes. All so pretty... quite an attractive scene.

Along the top road, Dampiera diversifolia [Section 15H] is a prostrate, suckering plant carpeted with dark blue flowers and Scaevola albida var. albida [Section 15H] is a low, spreading plant massed with white fan flowers. Throughout the Rock Garden the self-seeding straw daisies, Bracteantha sp., add extra colour.

Eremophila racemosa [Section 15R] is a small shrub illuminated with yellow buds, opening to orange and so to deep pink, bugle-shaped flowers. Lythrum salicaria [Section 15Q] is an erect plant with spikes of purple flowers, growing in shallow water in front of the waterfall.

And even more flowers to enjoy...

Barbara Daly.