A stroll along the Main Path this time of the year is a pleasant experience.  Starting at the end of the café building, this walk meanders through the Sydney Region Basin, the Rock Garden and the Rainforest.

1. Thryptomene sp. [Section 10] is a fairly open shrub of medium height with branches clad with tiny pink-petalled flowers.
2.  Continue on past the bed of daisies to view Banksia heliantha [Section 30].  Previously classified as a Dryandra, it is a low spreading shrub with interesting yellow buds surrounded by black calyces.
3. Close by is Banksia spinulosa ‘Honeypots’ [Section 30], bearing honey-coloured upright cylindrical flower spikes.
4. Almost opposite, Callistemon ‘Reeves Pink’ [Section 30] bears its lovely pink bottlebrush flowers.  It is set back from the path.
5. Banksia ericifolia ‘Red Clusters’ [Section 25] is a tall slim shrub bright with its colourful flower spikes.
6. Grevillea sericea subsp. sericea [Section 27] is a medium open shrub bearing cream lacy flowers.
7. Crossing the road, Grevillea ‘LadyO’ [Section 26] is a low shrub with red flowers pendent from its lateral branches.
8. Banksia conferta subsp. penicillata [Section 26] is a large ageing shrub laden mostly with old dark flower spikes also with mature lemon flower spikes.
9. Grevillea juniperina ‘Molonglo’ [Section 24] is a prostrate shrub with apricot-coloured flowers on the long lateral branches.
10. Across the next road, almost concealed by other shrubs, Acradenia frankliniae [Section 112] is a medium-sized shrub with glossy green leaves and a profusion of small balloon-shaped buds opening to cream star‑shaped flowers.
11. Before crossing the road to the Sydney Region Gully admire Correa ‘Canberra Bells’ [Section 112], graceful with its pendulous red tubular flowers with yellow mouths. It has been selected to commemorate Canberra’s centenary in 2013.
12. At the entrance in a newly-developed area there are many flannel flowers, Actinotus helianthi [Sections 191h, 191s]. These small shrubs have deeply-lobed greyish leaves and large cream flowers on bare upright stems.
13. Edging the path Crowea exalata [Section 191h] has small pink star-shaped flowers over the low dense shrub.
14. At the corner, where a path leads to the Display Glasshouse, Scaevola albida [Section 191j] is a dense groundcover profuse with small fan-shaped mauve flowers.
15. In the display garden, behind the circular seat, Crowea saligna [Section 191u] is a low spreading long-flowering shrub profuse with bright pink star-shaped flowers among the waxy bright green foliage.
16. Here also is Prostanthera porcata [Section 191u], a taller open shrub with pink tubular flowers.
17. At the exit, near more flannel flowers, is Scaevola ramosissima [Section 191 l]. It is a ground-hugging plant with deep purple fan‑shaped flowers along its lateral branches.
18. Follow the curved path through the Eucalyptus Lawn down to the Rock Garden, which is brightened with a grouping of large yellow straw flowers, Xerochrysum sp. [Section 15r].
19. In front of the attractive waterfall and pools is Banksia spinulosa ‘Birthday Candles’ [Section 15v], bright with its golden flower spikes.
20. Stroll through the pleasant Rainforest—so green, so cool—and down the ramp, passing Rhododendron lochiae x macgregoriae [Section 313]. It is an open shrub with bright red trumpet-shaped flowers.

Nearby is a mint bush, Prostanthera phylicifolia [Section 210], a dense shrub clad in profusion with small mauve flowers.

Barbara Daly