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

This sunny, windless winter weather is ideal for a walk along the Main Path. Start at the far end of the Café building, where Acacia alata [Section 240] continues to bear cream fluffy flower balls along its uniquely angulated and flattened stems. Farther on, Astartea ‘Winter Pink’ [Sections 10, 11] is a fine, upright shrub dotted with small pink flowers.

Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 30] is quite a large shrub covered in dazzling long cylindrical upright golden flower spikes, while Banksia spinulosa ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 30] is a dwarf shrub with numerous golden ‘candle’ flowers. Grevillea alpina (Goldfields form) [Section 30] is dense and rounded, packed with buds exploding into lemon flowers.

The path winds through many grevilleas, most of which are still heavy with buds. However Grevillea paniculata [Section 26] has branches of sharp, trilobed leaves shared with cream open flowers tipped with yellow. Grevillea aff. miqueliana nullica [Section 26] is also flowering, exposing attractive rust-red flower clusters. Correa pulchella [Section 112] is laden with orange-red tubular flowers and Correa ‘Marian’s Marvel’ [Section 112] is a spreading shrub with multicoloured tubular flowers.

Following the path through the Sydney Region Gully, see the planting in the top corner of Crowea exalata [Section 191h], radiant with pink star flowers, and Grevillea rhyolitica [Section 191h], with dangling orange-red flowers clusters. Along the path, Grevillea baueri subsp. asperula [Section 191s] has a covering of dark red flowers. In the Coastal Heath Section, Epacris impressa [Section 191p] can be seen with pink and red tubular flowers along upright stems. Goodenia decurrens [Section 191p] presents its yellow flowers on single upright stems. Another plant with bright yellow flowers is Hibbertia sericea [Section 191l], while in the display bed Crowea saligna [Section 191u] is colourful with pink waxy flowers.

The path winds through the Eucalypt Lawn to an area of wattles where Acacia flexifolia [Section 19] is low and spreading, with perfumed soft yellow flower balls, and Acacia consobrina [Section 18] is also a low growing plant, with firm yellow flower balls. Past Hakea laurina [Section 20], a small tree red with large globular flower balls, to the Rock Garden where there are always flowers to admire. Hakea sericea [Section 16] is perfumed with white lacy flowers along the outer branches. Read about and view the Wollemi Pine, Wollemia nobilis [Section 110], in its circular cage. Wander through the chilly green Rainforest and down the ramp where Eremophila maculata [Section 210] is bright with lovely tubular yellow flowers.

But, before you leave, in the building opposite the Visitor Centre, admire the potted plant, Blancoa canescens, a dwarf herb with strappy green leaves with lighter edges and soft velvety rose-coloured tubular flowers with orange mouths ... really superb!

Always another flower to see ...

Barbara Daly