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

The Rock Garden has a large variety of flowers worth viewing so, starting at the base of the stairs, Correa ‘Ivory Bells’ [Section 15D] is well named for its many tubular, ivory flowers hang like bells in this dense shrub. Crowea ‘Pink Blush’ [Section 15C] is also well named, bearing delicate white star flowers with a touch of pink. Homoranthus darwinioides [Section 15F], a long-flowering shrub with green-grey foliage, bears unique cream, fringed flowers which redden on ageing. Behind, Eremophila maculata var. brevifolia [Section F] is quite showy for its trumpet-shaped flowers are a carmine colour.

Grevillea lanigera [Section 15W], brilliant with pink spider-like flowers, is quite dense and hugs the ground down this slope. Above, Grevillea ‘Mason’s Hybrid’ [Section 15H], of medium size, has large terminal floral clusters coloured orange-red. Overlooking the Rock Garden, Acacia saliciformis [Section 2] is tall and coated with soft, cream flower balls. Another wattle nearby, Acacia terminalis [Section 3], is a medium, rounded shrub, also prolifically covered with soft, cream flower balls.

Chamelaucium uncinatum ‘Bundara Excelsior’ [Sections 15F,15R], a Geraldton Wax cultivar, is a neat, open shrub bearing many buds, now opening to large, pink, waxy flowers, so attractive for the cut-flower trade. Nearby, Guichenotia macrantha [Section 15F] is so lovely, with pink, down-turned flowers. In a small garden not far away, a miniature shrub, Epacris impressa (Mimosa Rocks National Park) [Section 15N], is a picture for it is well clad with coral pink tubular flowers.

Ground cover Grevillea maxwellii [Section 15P] has sharp, divided leaves which almost conceal the interesting deep red grape-like buds and flowers. Nearby, Hakea myrtoides [Section 15P] is still a young plant. It is semi-prostrate with branches radiating from the centre. The leaves are short, prickly and elliptical and the flowers, just opening, are almost a burgundy colour and appear between the leaves.

Opposite, Dampiera lanceolata var. lanceolata [Section 15R] is a dense, wiry, low-growing herb with deep blue, yellow-centred flowers. Dampiera sericantha [Section 15R] is a neater, dwarf herb with flowers a lighter shade of blue. Lasiopetalum involucratum  [Section 15R] is a dense, small shrub with cheery, pink flowers amid many buds covered with rust-coloured calyces. Correa pulchella ‘Mist Pink’ [Section 15S] is picturesque with pendent pink tubular flowers. The lovely pink starry flowers of Crowea exalata [Section 15S] are seen above and its semi-prostrate cultivar Crowea exalata ‘Bindelong Compact’ [Section 15S], with smaller, similar flowers, is below. In front of the waterfall, Lechenaultia formosa [Section 15D] with bright orange flowers and Brachyscome multifida ‘Evan’ [Section 15D], so small, with miniature mauve daisies can be seen.

A great area to enjoy...                                                            Barbara Daly