The Gardens orchid collection
The Gardens conservatory is always a marvellous place to visit no matter what season. With the winter and early spring comes the beginning of the orchid seasons with stunning collections available for public viewing. The sheltered environment in the conservatory means the temperature is always pleasant no matter what the seasons throw at us, and the amazing skills of our horticulturists ensure that the displays are always fresh and at their best.
The Gardens has one of the largest regular public displays of cool temperate orchids in Australia. It is wonderful to catch the differing displays as they change throughout the weeks depending on what orchid is at its best. There are many in flower from native rock orchids to rare and exotic species. It is different every month so make sure you visit more than once.
Beautiful foliage and texture
A symphony of features, colour and form
Often we forget that colour and form in a garden does not have to come from a pretty flower show. Although flowers can be spectacular, so too can leaf colour, plant shape and plant texture. When using contrasting and diverse forms of plants when designing a garden, we can set the basis for an incredibly stunning display.
The leaves of the blood lily stand boldly like green tongues from a subterranean world, cheekily teasing the viewer. The wind blows the delicate tops of the South African feather top, swaying together in rhythm like dancers with each gust. The succulent xerophyte garden displays an incredible range of texture and form, beautifully planted and maintained by our talented horticulturist Kath Saunders.
Another sweet smelling stunner!
The paper Daphne – Daphne bholua
Once again something sweet for winter, with the gradual finishing of last month’s sweet luculia, this wonderful plant, the paper daphne takes over.
The paper daphne has small inconspicuous white flowers that might not be as visible last months luculia blooms, but boy can it still compete on the perfume front. The wonderous odour permeates the area particularly on still mornings and evenings. Like the luculia this plant is also from the Himalayas growing from Nepal through to China.
Our plants are growing happily in the garden above the pond area near the white barked Himalayan birch grove..
The paper Daphne – Daphne bholua
Giant Spiders or what??!
Fern leaf banksia – Banksia blechnifolia – emerging flower buds
Fern leaf banksia – Banksia blechnifolia
You really have to do a double take when seeing this one for the first time. The young flower buds as they emerge in the winter could be confused for something a little more sinister!
This Western Australian banksia is one of only a handful that are completely prostrate and spend their whole life at ground level. Unlike other banksia that often form shrubs and trees this one prefers the ground. In many cases, birds pollinate banksia flowers; however, in this case it is the job of a small ground dwelling marsupial, the tiny native honey possum.
See them yourself in the banksia garden just under the balcony at the rear of the visitor centre.
A waterfall of flower
Silk tassel bush – Garrya elliptica
This always great plant is so easy to grow and boy does it show off at this time of the year!! Check this one out yourself just under the balcony of the Succulent restaurant.
Garraya elliptica