Australian National Botanic Gardens A weekly news sheet prepared
by a Gardens' volunteer. Numbers in square brackets  refer to
garden bed Sections. Plants in flower are in bold type. 11
February 2005 Rhododendron lochiae - click for larger image This
is a short walk abounding with colourful flowers to suit those
with little time. On entering the gardens throught the main
gates, the expanse of grasses with tall graceful nodding ochre
flower heads is mostly of the kangaroo grass, Themeda australis
[Section 175]. In the pots at the entrance to the Visitors
Centre, plants include Rhododendron lochiae with bright red
trumpet flowers on a low spreading shrub and a ground cover
Goodenia sp. with bright yellow flowers. These are seen below
the large arching fronds of the Birds Nest Fern, Asplenium
australasicum. Against the wall a wattle, Acacia mollifolia
[Section 221] is a tall, slender shrub reaching towards the
path, with fine divided velvety leaves and sprays of golden
fluffy flower balls. The background to the