In Flower this Week

Banksia spinulosa var.collina - click for larger image

Even though today is cold and wonderfully raining it is pleasant to view the many flowers along the Main Path. Sadly, because of the many heavy frosts numerous plants have been touched.

Starting at the end of the Café building where Banksia spinulosa var. collina [Section 131] is showy with its upright cylindrical gold flower spikes amid the well arranged leaves. The very small Hypocalymma jessicae [Section 12] with upright stems has pink lacey flowers just showing with its many pink buds.

Continue now through the section of grasses and daisies to Grevillea lanigera sp. aff. [Section 30]. It is of medium size and dense, almost pink with buds beginning to explode into pink and cream spider-like flowers. Heath banksia, Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 30] is a large open shrub bright with golden flower spikes. Edging the path, Grevillea lanigera form Bittangabee [Section 30] is semi-prostrate and well covered with pink buds and flowers. Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 30 and elsewhere] is a dwarf spreading plant prolific with fresh and ageing gold flower spikes. The banksia with bright yellow flower spikes amid the narrow silver backed leaves is Banksia spinulosa var. neoanglica [Section 27].

Cross the road where Hakea cycloptera [Section 24] covers its branches with sharp foliage and pink lacey flowers and where there are numerous budding grevilleas growing amid the stately white mottled eucalyptus trees. Grevillea paniculata [Section 26] has open yellow tipped white flowers over this shrub while Grevillea miqueliana [Section 26], somewhat similar to Grevillea irrasa subsp. didymochiton [Section 26], has soft reddish downturned spider flowers over the medium dense shrub.

Grevillea miqueliana - click for larger image

Crossing the road, the dwarf Crowea exalata [Section 112] reveals its miniature pink star flowers while the large shrub Correa ‘Marian’s Marvel’ [Section 112] is of medium size with attractive pendent tubular red and cream flowers. Little is in flower along the tranquil Sydney Region Gully path where a hedge of Spyridium burragorang [Section 191H] is dense with minute white flowers surrounded by white leaves, seen over the green shrub. Epacris calvertiana var. calvertiana [Section 191J, 191E] has clusters of white tubular flowers along its scraggy branches while opposite, Epacris impressa [Section 191P] is yet short but with red tubular flowers edging its branches. Crowea saligna [Section 191U] is low and spreading, displaying its lovely waxy deep pink star flowers.

Crossing the Eucalypt Lawn to an area of wattles, Acacia flexifolia [Section 18] is a low spreading shrub dense with small yellow flower balls. Across the road see the Pincushion Hakea, Hakea laurina [Section 20], its flower heads now coloured maroon. The Rock Garden has many colourful flowers including Thryptomene denticulata [Section 15S] with low lateral branches covered with pink flowers and the Gymea Lily, Doryanthes excelsa [Section 15C] with closed buds atop the elongated stem surrounded by large sword-like leaves.

Pass by the Wollemi Pine, Wollemia nobilis [Section 110] in its elaborate cage, to the Rainforest Gully where today the raindrops cling to the foliage. Then on to the ramp where a Mint Bush, Prostanthera phylicifolia [Section 210] is covered with its attractive mauve flowers and an Emu Bush, Eremophila maculata [Section 210] displays its yellow tubular flowers.

The rain, so appreciated … Barbara Daly.