In Flower this Week

Corymbia 'Summer Beauty' click for larger image

Plants in pots outside the Visitors Information Centre doors are so colourful for they include the dark purple fan flowers of Scaevola phlebopetala and Brachyscome multifida with small mauve daisy-like flowers. As this walk follows the Main Path which starts at the end of the café building, view the colours edging Banks Walk, not missing Eucalyptus ‘Summer Beauty’[Section 174] showing off its large clusters of soft pink fluffy flowers (soon to be changed to Corymbia ‘Summer Beauty’).

Callistemon viminalis [Section 310] is a large shrub with deeply grooved trunk and willowy canopy containing deep red bottlebrush-like flowers while Callistemon chisholmii [Sections 11,10] is picturesque with smaller pink bottlebrushes scattered loosely throughout the open foliage. Off the path the large Callistemon citrinus [Section 9] is afire with red bottlebrushes. The bed of daisies include Chrysocephalum semiamplexicaule [Section 303] has tiny heads of yellow-orange flowers on long angular stems. Passing the group of grass trees, Xanthorrhoea glauca [Section 8] with swaying skirts so green, Grevillea barklyana [Section 30] is a large spreading shrub dense with divided foliage and pink toothbrush-like flowers. Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 30] is a dwarf spreading shrub prolific with cream, not quite mature gold, upright cylindrical flower spikes. Opposite, a dense groundcover, Grevillea ‘Bronze Rambler’ [Section 30] has burgundy toothbrush-like flowers. Banksia spinulosa var. spinulosa [Section 27] is a low dense shrub with short needle-like foliage and long upright dull gold immature flower spikes.

Across the road Banksia ‘Cape Patterson Dwarf’ [Section 26] the dwarf form of Banksia marginata, is compact with developing lime coloured flower spikes. Close by Grevillea humifusa [Section 26] is an open trailing prostrate plant bright with fiery red flowers tipped with gold flowers.

Other grevilleas are seen along this path with eucalypts displaying their mottled grey tree trunks. Crossing the road, Crowea exalata [Section 112] are small shrubs clad with pink star flowers. Flowers seen from the curved path in the Sydney Region Gully include Podolobium aciculiferum [Section 191h] is a well-pruned shrub clad with small yellow-red pea shaped flowers. Opposite, Scaevola hookeri [Section 191s] is a dense ground- cover sprinkled with small white fan shaped flowers. Prostanthera porcata [Section 191s] close to a tree trunk, is an open small shrub with small pink tube shaped flowers while opposite and behind other shrubs the cream fluffy flowers of a Red Bloodwood, Eucalyptus gummifera [Section 191p] can be seen. Acacia linifolia [Section 191e] is a small tree with fine foliage and sprays of aromatic cream fluffy flower sprays. Behind the circular seat Crowea saligna [Section 191u] has bright pink star-shaped flowers over the low spreading shrub while opposite Platysace clelandii [Section 191l] in a group, have in abundance sprays of tiny white flowers.

Crossing the Eucalyptus Lawn, in a section of wattles, Acacia subulata [Section 18] is yet young and tall with fine leaves and yellow flower balls. The Rock Garden continues to have many plants in flower. Edging this path Thryptomene denticulata [Section 15s] is a low shrub with arching branches clad with tiny white flowers. The small plot in front of the waterfall contains emu bushes including Eremophila latrobei subsp. latrobei [Section 191v] with prominent cherry coloured tube shaped flowers among the grey-green foliage. A bank of Grevillea ‘Poorinda Royal Mantle’ [Section 15d] a dense groundcover with red tooth-brush like flowers cascades down the rockface.

Calistemon citrinus click for larger image

A Brown Pine, Podocarpus elatus [Section 16] is a tall dense shrub prominent with powdery green fruits. Then a relaxing walk through the Rainforest with its many shades and shapes of greenery to the ramp beyond where Prostanthera phylicifolia [Section 210] coloured with mauve tubular flowers edge the path leading to the Information Centre.

Such a walk to enjoy … Barbara Daly.