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

5 December 1997

This walk, in conjunction with the yellow pamphlet `A walk along the new Main Path' (available at the Visitor Centre), follows this path and starts at the far end of the cafe building where Callistemon viminalis [Section 143] stands tall and dense alight with rich red bottlebrush flowers. Note, also, the attractive grey, grooved trunks. Callistemons are now flowering in many parts of the Gardens.

Melaleuca elliptica [Section 11] is of medium size with bottlebrush-like red flowers dotted along the branches covered with grey papery bark. Leptospermum polygalifolium subsp. montanum [Section 9] is a large shrub covered in profusion with white, with a tint of green, flowers which have a prominent green centre. Over the path see the many emu-bushes which include Eremophila glabra [Section 9] with grey velvet foliage and red tubular flowers and Eremophila racemosa [Section 9] with green foliage and yellow to orange buds, maturing to reddish-purple flowers.

See the unique grass tree, Xanthorrhoea glauca subsp. glauca [Section 8] with swirling green skirt and tall cream flower spikes. Kangaroo paws, Anigozanthos flavidus [Section 8] have muddy green flowers with orange throat atop of long, bare stems. The nectar of these flowers is enjoyed by many honeyeating birds. Kunzea ambigua [Section 30]is tall and dense and is covered with fluffy white, sweetly perfumed flowers. Walk under the lovely old cabbage gum, Eucalyptus amplifolia [Section 27] with many mottled grey trunks and with buds just exploding to cream fluffy flowers. Marvel at the ornately manicured Grevillea aspleniifolia [Section 26] with pink toothbrush-like flowers.

The path winds through the recently planted area of the Sydney Flora Region where small plants are already flowering. Scaevola ramosissima [Section 191] has wiry, prostrate stems bearing large, purple flowers and Goodenia heterophylla [Section 191] also prostrate, bears small yellow flowers. Near the seat and snug between the sandstone rocks, see Isotoma axillaris [Section 191] with pale blue star-like flowers and Hibbertia diffusa [Section 191] showing off its bright yellow flowers while, down in the shady green gully, Crimson Rosellas bathe in the cool, running water. Further uphill, Flannel Flowers, Actinotus helianthi [Section 191] with grey foliage and large daisy-like, white velvet flowers are splendid.

Meander across the Eucalypt Lawn and down to the Rock Garden. See Leptospermum `Aphrodite' [Section 15C] of medium size, bearing its cherry coloured flowers. Then, through the coolness of the Rainforest and finally, down through the rock cutting, not overlooking our ACT Floral Emblem, Wahlenbergia gloriosa [Section 212] which bears large, dark blue flowers.

Pleasant walking ... marvellous flora.

Barbara Daly.