Such a pleasant autumn day to stroll along the Main Path which winds through the Sydney Basin, the Eucalypt Lawn, the Rock Garden and the Rainforest. The walk commences at the far end of the cafe building and will select only a few plants in flower.

1. Callistemon viminalis [Section 310] at the corner is a tall shrub with many branches and a covering of dark red bottlebrushes.
2. Callistemon chisholmii [Sections 10, 11] arching above the path has a weeping habit and smaller pink flowers.
3. Beside the seat, Babingtonia ‘Howie’s Feathertips’ [Section 30] is an upright shrub bright with tiny white-petalled flowers.
4. Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 30] (like many other banksias) is now bearing green pencil-thin flower spikes with a few changing colour to a gold tone. They are seen among the leaves of this dwarf spreading shrub.
5. At the next corner, the popular Grevillea ‘Lady O’ [Sections 26, 24] is a low shrub with lateral branches bearing its clusters of lovely red flowers.
6. Behind this, Grevillea ‘Pink Lady’ [Section 24] conceals its interesting pink-cream flowers in the low dense shrub.
7. Banksia marginata ‘Cape Patterson Dwarf’ [Section 26] has immature lime flower spikes among the dark foliage.
8. A Geebung, Persoonia acerosa [Section 26], has bright green foliage dotted with tiny yellow tube-shaped flowers on this dense, almost rounded shrub.
9. Pass by an aging Banksia conferta subsp. penicillata [Section 26]. It is clad with a profusion of black spent spikes among which are many fresh lime coloured flower spikes.
10. Across the road, at the next corner, Crowea exalata [Section 112] has tiny pink star flowers.
11. At the next exit, a group of Correa ‘Canberra Bells’ [Section 112].This small open shrub commemorates Canberra’s centenary (1913–2013) and bears attractive bright red- cream bell-shaped flowers.
12. Across the road, explore the flora of the Sydney region in this newly developed area. One of the highlights is the flannel flower, Actinotus helianthi [Sections 191h, 191s]. They are small plants with grey foliage and flowers with white petal-like bracts.
13. Edging the side road is Scaevola ramosissima [Section 191h], a prostrate plant with deep purple flowers on its trailing stems.
14. Here too is a Goodenia paniculata [Section 191h], also prostrate but with yellow flowers.
15. At the turn-off to the glasshouse, Scaevola albida [Section 191j] is a dense prostrate plant bearing tiny pink fan-shaped flowers.
16. A wattle, Acacia linifolia [Section 191e], with clusters of lemon fluffy flower balls can be seen among other shrubs.
17. Behind the round seat, Crowea saligna [Section 191u] is an attractive plant with prominent bright pink star-like flowers among the light green foliage.
18. Cross the Eucalypt Lawn down to an area of wattles seen in the distance. These include Acacia fulva [Section 18], well clad with lemon fluffy flower balls.
19. The next area is the Rock Garden. At the entrance are pots which include Platytheca galioides [Section 15r], a loose branched plant with small blue flowers. The view of the waterfall and pools is picturesque.
20. In the coolness of the Rainforest Syzygium australe [Section 148] is a shrub rising above the board-walk, showing its white fluffy flowers among its dark green leaves.
21. At the exit of the Rainforest a Leatherwood, Eucryphia wilkiei [Section 313], is a dense shrub profuse with its cream cup-shaped flowers.

Barbara Daly