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

Canberra is brilliant with the golden balls of wattle. The Gardens are also brilliant with wattles and banksias. The prostrate form of Cootamundra Wattle, Acacia baileyana [Section 227], is draping its golden flower masses over the retaining wall in the southern car park - really some sight! Crowea ‘Festival’ [Section 224] is also colourful for this shrub is covered with bright pink flowers above which Hardenbergia violacea [Section 224] trails over the shrubs, coloured purple by its many pea flowers.

Walking up the back of the buildings, Banksia ericifolia var. ericifolia [Section 212] is of medium size and bears its long, upright deep gold cylindrical flower spikes amid its dense foliage. Also along this wall is Rulingia magniflora [Section 212], upright and open, decorated with loose, open sprays of pink flowers and soft, velvety leaves. At its feet is Chorizema varium [Section 212], a dense, low, spreading plant dotted with orange-yellow pea flowers.

Opposite, in the Mallee Shrublands section, is Micromyrtus sessilis [Section 211] with low arching branches covered with tiny white flowers curving over the rock wall.  Following the path above the steps, Acacia brachybotrya [Section 211] is a neat rounded tree of medium height already with golden flower balls amid its many buds. Opposite, Bossiaea walkeri [Section 211] is rather odd in appearance for this plant has flattened stems which helps the plant lose less water. It is greyish-green in colour and has many buds, some already displaying red pea flowers. The yellow daisies scattered throughout this area are Senecio lautus subsp. dissectifolius [Section 211].

Phebalium glandulosum subsp. glandulosum [Section 211] is an attractive small plant tipped with clusters of yellow flowers fluffy with long anthers.  Hybanthus floribundus [Section 211] has, in profusion, tiny pale blue flowers arranged over this small shrub. Westringia crassifolia [Section 211] bears mauve bugle-shaped flowers which beautify this woody, windswept plant. Beside it is Pimelea linifolia subsp. linifolia [Section 211] which is quite compact and covered with clusters of tiny white flowers. The red buds also enhance this shrub. The medium erect tree bright with rods of bright yellow flowers is Acacia granitica [Section 211] while at its base Prostanthera aspalathoides [Section 211] bears small red tubular flowers on the small shrub. Throughout this mallee area the eucalypts and wattles are covered with buds which will be so colourful in a few weeks.

Time now to view some plants in front of the Visitor Centre. Below the windows admire Eucalyptus caesia subsp. magna [Section 221] with long, arching silvery branches terminating with large pendant pink flowers. See, also, Hakea crassinervia [Section 221] low and sprawling with lovely clusters of deep pink flowers along its extended branches.

Flowers are just about bursting  out all over ...

Barbara Daly