In Flower This Week 19.09.2008

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

The display of yellow above the south car park is not only that of the yellow flowers of wattles which continue to light up throughout the Gardens. It is also of Pomaderris intermedia [Section 225]. These shrubs are mostly of medium size and are clad with large clusters of yellow flowers.

Then, edging Banks Walk flowering shrubs include the Snowy River Wattle, Acacia boormanii [Section 210], so showy with its coat of soft yellow flower balls,but also withthe vine Hardenbergia violacea [Section 210] which reveals its bright purple pea shaped flowers throughout the wattle. Acacia cognata ‘Green Mist’ [Section 210] is an attractive well-groomed shrub with fine pendulous foliage dotted with small yellow flower balls. Opposite Darwinia macrostegia [Section 174] is a low open shrub bearing pendulous red bell shaped flowers. Hibbertia empetrifolia [Section 210] covers the rock wall with its dense foliage now sprinkled with bright yellow open flowers while, opposite, a Geraldton Wax, Chamelaucium ‘Cascade Jewel’ [Section 174] has a coverage of mottled pink open waxy flowers atop its long woody branches. Black EyedSusan, Tetratheca thymifolia [Section 60] seen in the narrow garden, is yet small and well clad with its magenta coloured flowers.

In front of the café building the Ellis Rowan Garden contains the yet small wattle, Acacia ‘Scarlet Blaze’ [Section 131]. This tree bears its remarkable reddish, dotted yellow flower balls. At the end of the building the large Hill banksia, Banksia spinulosa var. collina [Section 131] continues to display its upright cylindrical yellow flower spikes.

This walk continues towards the Sydney Basin area so only few of many flowers will be mentioned en route. Following the Main Path, notice Philotheca (Eriostemon) ‘J. Semmens’ [Section 30]. This small outstanding shrub is well clad with pale pink multi-petalled flowers. At the next junction, behind the notice board, Grevillea flexuosa [Section 25] has yellow cigar shaped flower spikes amid the broad divided leaves. In front Pincushion Coneflower, Isopogon dubius [Section 25] is a small prickly shrub bearing soft pink flower heads. Edging this road the Red Spider flower, Grevillea speciosa [Section 26] presents burgundy coloured spider flowers while beside, Grevillea nana [Section 26] is a dwarf shrub having bright lemon flowers. Grevillea irrasa subsp. didymochiton [Section 26] is a large dense shrub bearing many powdery red spider flowers. At the far end of this section, Grevillea floribunda subsp. floribunda [Section 26] is a medium open shrub with felt-like green-grey foliage and interesting with rusty green pendulous flower clusters.

Acacia leprosa 'Scarlet Blaze' - click for larger image

Across the road, almost surrounded by other shrubs, Philotheca myoporoides subsp. myoporoides [Section 112] is small and upright with splendid bright pink star flowers and many red buds. Edging the road to the left Grevillea corrugata [Section 24] is large and spreading and clad with open white lacy flowers. At this next corner, Pink Spider flower, Grevillea sericea [Section 112] has vivid magenta coloured spider flowers while beside, Phebalium squamulosum subsp. lineare [Section 112] is a larger shrub with clusters of fluffy yellow flowers and Asterolasia asteriscophora [Section 112] with different foliage has open yellow flowers. The opposite corner Dillwynia ramosissima [Section 191h] is upright with a canopy of yellow pea-shaped flowers while Logania albiflora [Section 191h] covers its lateral branches with tiny white flowers and behind the cluster of large white daisies with grey-green foliage are that of Helichrysum elatum ‘Helping Hand’ [Section 191h]. Could follow the Main Path back to the Café.

In Flower this Week