Actinodium cunninghamii' click for larger image

The floral beauty and variety seen along Banks Walk is a joy to see.  This walk follows the Main Path which passes through the magnificent trees, winding through the Sydney Basin and the Eucalyptus Lawn to the Rock Garden and then the cool of the Rainforest has such a variety of flowers worth admiring.

Starting at the far end of the café building where Calytrix tetragona [Section 10] covers the ground with clusters of white fluffy flowers.  There are pots too, one containing Actinodium cunninghamii [Section 10] a daisy-like flower with frilly white bracteoles surrounding the pink floral centre.  Thryptomene sp. [Section 10] is a low dense shrub laden with pink buds while Melaleuca fulgens ‘Hot Pink’[Section 10,11] is an upright leggy shrub bright with fluffy bottlebrush-like flowers.  At this next corner the perfumed Homoranthus flavescens [Section 9] is interesting for its layered branches are clad with clusters of yellow flowers which glisten with nectar.

Around the curve is a view of the Gymea Lily, Doryanthes excelsa [Section 8] so tall with red flower clusters atop long stems surrounded by large sward-like leaves.  Behind is a large vivid pink shrub, Bauera rubioides [Section 7] and edging the Main Path is a bed of Chrysocephalum apiculatum [Section 9] a suckering groundcover dotted with small yellow flower heads.  A group of waratahs include Telopea ‘Canberry Gem’[Section 30] all with popular red flower heads. There too, is Grevillea speciosa [Section 30] a shrub of medium size clad with vivid red spider-like flowers.  Smaller plants include Hypocalymma sp. Lake King [Section 30] has arching  branches clad with downturned pink cup-shaped flowers. A grouping of  Isopogon anemonifolius [Section 25] have soft divided leaves and ‘drumstick’ heads of yellow flowers.  Opposite, Grevillea acanthifolia [Section 27] is of medium size with long lateral branches clad with soft pink toothbrush-like flowers.

Across the next road, mixing with many light coloured eucalyptus trees trunks, there are many grevilleas and only few will be included.  Grevillea ‘Lady O’[Section 26], at the corner, has fiery red spider-like flowers on its lateral branches while opposite and beside the next seat Grevillea ‘Bonfire’ [Section 24] is a large dense shrub profuse with curvaceous waxy red flower clusters. Behind the next seat Banksia blechnifolia [Section 26] has underground stems with powder pink flower spikes sitting on the surface with upright long indented leaves.  Across the road Eriostemon australasius [Section 112] is so attractive with a profusion of pink star-like flowers over the low shrub.  Boronia heterophylla [Section 112] is more upright and laden with the renowned deep red cup-shaped flowers.

Solanum brownii click for larger image

The path wanders through the Sydney Region Gully, its plants mostly not yet flowering. At the look-down Solanum brownii [Section 191] displays its deep purple flowers and at the turn-off to the  hot-house, Black-eyed Susan, Tetratheca thymifolia [Section 191j] has downturned pink flowers over the small dense shrubs.  Melaleuca capitata [Section 191l] is a large shrub with rounded heads of fluffy cream flowers. The redeveloped area displays Dampiera purpurea [Section 191l] a  small upright shrub clad with deep blue flowers.  Waratahs there are finishing.

Across the Eucalyptus Lawn clusters of Helichrysum elatum [Section 18] with grey foliage bears large yellow-centred white daisy-like flowers.  The Rock Garden contain many floral interests.  The enclosure is edged with Hibbertia pedunculata [Section 4] with bright yellow flowers and the small pink and white daisies are those of Rhodanthe chlorocephala [Section 4].  Past the picturesque waterfall, usually with Water Dragons sunning on the rocks, Diggers Speedwell, Derwentia perfoliata [Section 15c] is so very blue with flowers.  The stroll through the Rainforest Gully is so cool, so green, so pleasant and so leads back to the Information Centre.

An enjoyable stroll…                                                     Barbara Daly.