THE BOTANIC GARDENS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29749, 16 February 1962, Page 7

THE BOTANIC GARDENS

One of the main attractions throughout the grounds at present is the beds and borders planted with summer - flowering bedding plants. Of particular note are the beds on the Armstrong lawn, the mixed planting opposite the Hospital and the border of Begonia semper-florens past the western end of the archery lawn. Just south of the central lawn is a special display arranged to illustrate one of Mendel’s laws on heredity. Summer-flowering Heaths In the rock garden, the Erica border, and in the Bog Garden, several varieties of hardy heath are flowering. These are among the most useful plants in the garden as they cofnmence flowering in the summer and continue through the autumn. Varieties of the Cornish heath (Erica vagans) are outstanding, the deep rosy-pink of Mrs D. F. Maxwell being one of the best. Of the numerous varieties of Scots heather (Calluna vulgaris) the variety, H. E. Beale is very good. Erica cinerea is another attractive species.

A comprehensive collection of interesting tropical foliage and flowering plants is on display in the Cuningham house. Upstairs in the gallery on the eastern side there are many interesting foliage plants. Strobilanth es dyerianus has handsome metallic-purple' foliage. Sanchezia nobilis var. glaucophylla has leaves striped with yellow, the various forms of Acalypha have multi-coloured foliage in various shapes and climbing one of the girders is a large plant of Tetrastigma. Pentas lanceolata is an attractive plant which has heads of pink flowers. Along the western side Stephanotis floribunda ;s coming into flower, in hanging baskets the brilliantflowered Aeschynanthus lobbianus and A. grandiflorus are flowering, Ixora chinensis may be seen on the bench and climbing one of the girders Bougainvillea is in full flower.