In Flower This WeekA weekly news-sheet prepared by a Gardens volunteer
Numbers in brackets [ ] refer to garden bed 'Sections'. Plants in flower are in bold type.
The bright red waratahs at the Main Gates are Telopea Dougs Hybrid, one species of many flowering throughout the Gardens. The floral display along Banks Walk is spectacular. However the beauty of the Gardens goes well beyond this area and this walk will lead, eventually, to the beauties inside the Display Glasshouse.
Grevillea White Wings [Section 124] has open, sweetly perfumed flowers in profusion along arching branches. Opposite, Melaleuca fulgens Hot Pink [Section 126] displays its well-named bottlebrush-like flowers on an open shrub. Around the corner the Wonga Wonga Vine, Pandorea pandorana [Section 117], drapes its masses of tubular cream flowers over many tall trees and shrubs.
Walk along this avenue of mint bushes, all with their characteristic perfumes. Prostanthera Poorinda Petite [Section 6] has mauve flowers while Prostanthera latifolia [Section 6] is a larger shrub with deep violet flowers and Prostanthera incana [Section 6] has bluish-purple flowers. Belonging to the same family, Westringia glabra [Section 5] has similar mauve flowers. Prostanthera rotundifolia Rosea [Section 206] differs in having soft pink flowers.
Grevilleas, too, are so colourful. Grevillea oleoides [Section 24] is small and upright with deep red spider flowers and Grevillea hookeriana [Section 24], also small, has divided leaves with red toothbrush-like flowers. In another area Grevillea Crosbie Morrison [Section 24] edges the path displaying cherry red flowers and, behind, Grevillea rosmarinifolia Lime Light [Section 24] hangs its lime-coloured flowers from arching branches... and so many other grevilleas in flower all through the Gardens
This walk is along the far side of the Sydney Basin passing the bright pea flowers of Platylobium formosum [Section 191h] and Eriostemon verrucosus (now Philotheca verrucosa) J. Semmens [Section 112], a small shrub with arching branches covered with multi-petalled white flowers. Boronia anemonifolia var. anemonifolia [Section 191k] is a small plant laden with pink buds opening to white star flowers. Behind, Eriostemon scaber subsp. latifolius (now Philotheca scabra subsp. latifolia) [Section 191k] is startling with a covering of white flowers. Boronia muelleri [Section 191f] of medium height, is laden with pink buds and pink flowers. Along this narrow curving path Boronia pinnata [Section 191f] is a small open shrub with deep pink starry flowers. Hibbertia dentata [Section 191k] trails along the leaf litter, brightening it with its yellow flowers. Epacris sp. aff. impressa [Section 191k] has upright stems bright with pendent tubular red flowers.
Time to sit awhile to enjoy the beauty of the tree ferns, Dicksonia antarctica [Section 191] and the many bird calls. Somewhere behind is a tall waratah, Telopea mongaensis x speciosissima [Section 191] so bright with large red flowers. Turn right then left to the Display Glasshouse, open daily from 10 am to 3 pm, full of colourful tropical wonders.
Another colourful walk in these Gardens ... Barbara Daly.