Sadly Perth’s winter weather had taken a turn for the worse but a few days after our excursion to Fremantle we took the train into Perth and took a bus up to Kings Park. We had been here in spring one year previously so we thought it would be interesting to visit in late winter. We walked along the path after descending from the bus. We had an impressive view back towards the city of Perth.As we continued along the path we also had a view to the south of the Swan River.The park had expanses of grass and well established trees.However we were most interested in the garden beds with the displays of native plants. We don’t see this kangaroo paw so much in the eastern states but it is a highlight in WA. A section of eucalypts was just beautiful. This is a Eucalyptus kruseana.We saw also both yellow and red varieties of Eucalyptus youngiana

with their huge seed pods.The Bossiaea walkeri had quite diminutive flowers by comparison.Beds full of everlastings were just starting to open up.I caught this bee just about to inspect this Eremophila flower.Another bee was already part way into this Darwinia meeboldii (Cranbrook Bell) flower. This plant is classified ‘vulnerable’ so it was good to see it.Next we saw a Geleznowia sp. Red Bluff with it’s startling yellow flowers.

This is an Eremophila purpurascens.The flowers on this Chorizema varium did indeed have flowers of various shades.The flowers on this Thomas glabripetala looked very delicate.The globule like flowers on this Acacia guinetii were just starting to bloom.How tiny are the flowers on this Myoporum turbinatum?This Lambertia is classified ‘Endangered’ so seeing one in flower is a rare opportunity.

A wattle bird was enjoying a forage in this Grevillea acropogon.Seeing this ‘Critically Endangered’ Grevillea maxwellii was a rare chance too.

Next up was a Grevillea phanerophlebia found in the Northern Wheatbelt of WA.In the next section there was another ‘Critically Endangered’ plant, a Verticordia staminosa var. erecta with its tiny yellow feathery flowers.

After that we were happy to see some of our favourite Australian plants, the Banksias. First up was a Banksia ashbyi.Next up was a Banksia menziesii.The last one in this section was a Banksia coccinea.From there we walked over the grass of a very open part of the park with a fountain.Making our way back onto the path again we passed another section of pink everlastings before coming to more garden beds. The first had a lovely Prostanthera magnifica in it.Next was another not very common plant, the Qualup Bell, Pimelia physodes. This photo shows the detail on the petals when the light is shining through them.Another plant with bell flowers was this Darwinia oxylepis, growing to less than a metre tall.As we approached the cafe and shopwe passed this mass planting of Banksia pilostyliswhich had a couple of flower cones in bloom.The final specimen we saw was this Acacia glaucoptera with its yellow ball flowers.After a short browse in the shop we made our way out of the park and down the path to the bus stop for our trip back into the city, well pleased with what we had seen, even though we knew it would be even better when spring arrived.