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

21 June 2002

This walk explores the Sydney Region Gully which is such an interesting, tranquil section where flowers and birds prevail. On the way, along Banks Walk, a Geraldton Wax cultivar, Chamelaucium ‘Jewel’ [Section 174], is an open upright shrub with pink waxy flowers while, rounding the corner, Guichenotia ledifolia [Section 174] is a small shrub with grey-green foliage and nodding pink bell-like flowers. Above Bottom Depot, Queensland Silver Wattle, Acacia podalyriifolia [Section 126], is a small tree bearing golden flower balls amid the silver-grey leaves. Thryptomene saxicola ‘Pink Lace’ [Section 10] is pretty with its low arching branches massed with tiny pink flowers.

Continue now to the Sydney Region Gully. Acacia terminalis [Section 191g] is a small spreading tree clad with cream flower balls. Closer to the stream, Bursaria spinosa var. spinosa [Section 191g] is an erect shrub with masses of white flowers. Before traversing the narrow path, view the plantings of Net Bush, Calothamnus quadrifidus [Section 194], with soft pine-like leaves and feathery red flowers in clusters resembling one-sided bottlebrushes. A group of tea-trees, Leptospermum squarrosum [Section 194], reveals lovely pink peach-blossom flowers on the lower branches of the upright shrubs.

Along the narrow path Epacris longifolia [Section 191f] is a low tangle of branches with red and white narrow tubular flowers dangling from its branches. Crowea exalata [Section 191k] displays its lovely pink star-like flowers over the medium size shrub while the powder pink trunk of the Smooth-barked Apple, Angophora costata [Section 191k], stands regally beside the path. The medium size shrub Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa [Section 191k] has gold cylindrical upright flower spikes ribbed with black styles and, past the descending steps, Lomatia silaifolia [Section 191j] is an open, erect shrub with interesting finely divided leaves and sprays of lacey cream flowers.

From the seat in front of the low open shrubs of Crowea saligna [Section 191f], with deep pink wax-like star flowers, the gully is dense with large tree-ferns, Dicksonia antarctica [Section 191], which conceal the stream where birds including Crimson and Eastern Rosellas splash in the water. Epacris pulchella [Section 191f] is small and wiry with branch ends wrapped in tiny white flowers.

Crossing the road, Acacia suaveolens [Section 191q] is a small open tree with narrow leaves and clusters of cream flowers. Boronia polygalifolia [Section 191t] is a small plant with prostrate branches of tiny pink star flowers. At the top end of the gully, Dracophyllum secundum [Section 191b] is a small shrub with spreading branches covered with lance-like leaves and terminating with clusters of pinkish-white tubular flowers which mingle with the powdery pink tubular flowers of Epacris reclinata [Section 191b]. Pass by the grove of Scribbly Gums, Eucalyptus rossii [Section 191a, l], and Brittle Gums, Eucalyptus mannifera [Section 191a, l] all with stately mottled white trunks, to see Hibbertia saligna [Section 191a] crowned with bright yellow open flowers over the rounded shrub at the exit of this lovely area.

Yet another grand area of the Gardens …                                Barbara Daly.