Alyogyne huegelii

It's pleasing to see Alyogyne huegelii (Native Hibiscus) in flower at this time of year.  There are a number of Alyogyne cultivars in nurseries these days but the genus in the wild occurs almost exclusively in Western Australia or South Australia.  Although it grows in arid or low rainfall conditions naturally, Alyogyne huegelii seems quite adaptable to heavier, wetter soils and doesn't even seem to mind partial shade.  It fills a spot in gardens with bright flowers in mid winter.

Angiopteris evecta

Angiopteris evecta (also known as King fern or Giant fern) was thought to be extinct in the wild in NSW until a single plant was discovered in 1978.  It can also be found growing in rainforests in Queensland.  Angiopteris is considered to be a primitive species which goes back to the ancient Gondwana flora. This specimen can be found in the Bicentennial Conservatory in Adelaide Botanic Gardens.

And this is the Conservatory from the outside!

Simpson Shadehouse

Here are three photos taken on Monday (23 June) from the entrance to the Simpson Shadehouse in the Adelaide Botanic Garden.  Interestingly the Staghorns (Platycerium superbum) that used to hang on the internal walls of the shadehouse have all been moved outside to the southern wall of the shadehouse (facing away from the sun).  They are visible in the photo accompanying this post.

Pandanus roots

I didn't go to the tropics to capture these pandanus roots on camera.  It has been an exceptionally cold, windy and rainy winter's day over much of South Australia today but the garden path led me once again to the Adelaide Botanic Gardens and my first visit to the Bicentennial Conservatory.  I was expecting it to be warm and humid within but expenditure cuts have meant that the conservatory doesn't get heated as it once did.  It was 14 degrees C inside but at least the chilling wind was absent.  There's a demonstration of aquaponics at the northern end of the conservatory which is well worth a visit!

Happy Wanderer

Hardenbergia violacea "Happy Wanderer" is a vigorous Australian native climber in the pea family.  It trails up trellises or wire fences or on wire netting around the base of a tree (like this one).  It's very easy care, drought hardy once established and provides a wonderful floral display at this time of year (winter).

Adelaide Botanic Gardens

When I was much younger I always enjoyed visiting Adelaide's Botanic Garden (ABG).  My favourite section was always the Simpson bush house with its collection of ferns and shade loving plants and the Australian forest section just beyond it.  In those days these were at the eastern edge of the garden and were almost a secret area away from the restaurant, kiosk and duck pond where most people congregated.  However, ABG has pleasingly expanded in more recent years, first with the BiCentennial Conservatory full of rare tropical plants and more recently the administration buildings and new wetland near Hackney Road.  So my favourite once secret place is now right in the centre of the garden with the Diggers Shop, a pleasant dining area and the refurbished Museum of Economic Botany nearby (all much better than the duck pond and kiosk).  This is a photo I took a couple of weeks ago of the Simpson House with its Staghorns (Platycerium superbum) adorning it (note they're facing south away from the sun) and the BiCentennial Conservatory looming beyond it through the Australian  trees.  Always worth a visit.

Correa glabra var turnbullii (Rock Correa)

This variety of Correa glabra is found solely in South Australia from the Barossa and Adelaide Hills to Monarto and the Mallee.  This one is growing in a garden adjoining Blackwood Forest Recreation Park.  I was able to identify it by crushing one of the glossy leaves.  Most forms of Correa glabra var turnbullii have a leaf scent not unlike a male aftershave (although I don't know if there are any aftershaves with this scent!).  Flowering and flower forms tend to vary.  Some forms are less showy than others on which flowers are quite prominent and the flower colour varies.  This one has pink flowers grading to yellow/green tips but I have a couple of young plants growing in my garden that have a more definite boundary between the pink base and the lemon green tips.  Rock Correa grows to about a metre with a 2 metre spread but it can be pruned to shape.  It used to be called Correa schlechtendalii until the genus was revised in 1961 and 1998.

Aechmea gamosepala (with variegated leaves)

I discovered this bromeliad in flower a few weeks ago growing in a hanging basket through some autumnal birch leaves. I noticed an eastern spinebill checking the flowers for nectar a few days later.

Just hanging around looking adorable!

This little koala was hanging around just over the back fence this morning.  It looks like it might be one of the babies from last year as it's not very big.  Sorry about the resolution.  It was a bit gloomy under the trees when I took the photo.

Correa 'Mannii' (Mann's correa)

This correa, which is thought to be a natural hybrid between Correa pulchella and Correa reflexa, was discovered in the Melbourne garden of Sir Frederick Mann who was the Chief Justice in Victoria (Mann was born in Mt Gambier, South Australia).  Its red flowers make a stunning display in autumn and winter.