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

After viewing the exhibition of the Floral Emblems of Australia, and in particular to marvel at the embroideries of these flowers, see the brilliant magenta-coloured open flowers of Calandrinia balonensis in the pots outside the Visitor Centre. They harmonise well with the yellow flowers of Hibbertia glaberrima close by. This walk will be around and about the buildings to see some of the autumn colours of our native plants. In front of the Visitor Centre Hakea crassinervia (Syn. Hakea ‘Burrendong Beauty’) [Section 221] is a low sprawling plant with pink flower balls packed along the long stems. Eremophila nivea [Section 221] is an upright neat shrub with grey foliage dotted with soft mauve bugle flowers.

On either side of Banks Walk flowers include Banksia ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 172, 210] its golden flower spikes ribbed with red styles on a dwarf, rounded plant. Dampiera diversifolia [Section 174] is a small suckering herb bright with dark blue flowers while Ptilotus macrocephalus [Section 174, 210] is an upright plant with soft feathery greyish flowers on long stems. The very small herbs in this area include Viola hederacea [Section 174], displaying soft mauve violets, while Lechenaultia formosa [Section 174] is another prostrate rounded plant with bright red flowers (likely to be removed by our thieving birds). A cultivar, Scaevola ‘New Blue’ [Section 174] is brilliant with bright purple fan flowers over the low growing herb. Over the path a kangaroo paw, Anigozanthos ‘Bush Sunset’ [Section 210] continues to show its deep red ‘paw’ flowers on long bare stems. Higher up can be seen a few deep red flowers of a waratah, Telopea ‘Braidwood Brilliant’ [Section 210] and the yellow trumpet flowers of Eremophila maculata [Section 210].

Cross the bridge and, in front of the Café building, compare Crowea ‘Festival’ [Section 240], which displays pink star flowers, with Crowea ‘Southern Stars’ [Section 240], with smaller flowers, and Crowea saligna [Section 240], with larger waxy pink star flowers. At the corner the low spreading shrub dense with toothed leaves and red toothbrush flowers is Grevillea ‘Boongala Spinebill’ [Section 240].

In front of Crosbie Morrison Building, where the interesting Science Festival exhibition of snakes, lizards and frogs can be seen, Scaevola ‘Mauve Clusters’ [Section 242] is a dense ground cover dotted with small mauve fan flowers. The backdrop is Banksia ‘Giant Candles’ [Section 242, 143] displaying elongated golden cylindrical flowers over this slim shrub. In the far garden a bluebell, Wahlenbergia stricta [Section 242], has white flowers on this tufted herb. With a bit of luck, Sturt’s Desert Pea, Swainsona formosa [Section 242], floral emblem of South Australia, may still have a large red pea flower or two.

Just past the Friends Lounge, in a small raised bed, Acacia alata [Section 240] is a quaint beauty. The low, open shrub has flat angular stems covered with soft cream fluffy flower balls.

Time for coffee?

Barbara Daly.