The end of a long hot summer is when a garden of native plants shows its stamina. Some hardy plants continue to show a few flowers even after just a small shower of rain. We had no really good falls and no wet season, again. The focus for visitors was on the stunning colours of the various barks, especially the eucalypts. The pick of the Garden at the moment is the row of Eucalyptus salubris with their burnished copper sheen reaching into the clear blue skies with shiny green leaves. A picture of Aussie pride. Angophora barks are still clothed in orange, apricot and creams, some with red staining on damaged trunks. Lots of these branches have fallen as a result of storms and wild winds.

Summer is the season for grasses and their waving ranks of seed heads. Pause and look at the great variety of species that exist here, as it has not been grazed or burnt for decades. No mowing is carried out over summer to ensure seeds fall and regenerate. So it is 'sock top' time, or wear no socks at all if you visit before we mow at Easter, and then you take away no seeds as weeds.

Grevillea hybrids seldom disappoint, so wander around the gallery and the high tank and you will find some flowers. Look especially for the green clusters of flowers on Eucalyptus kruseana - check out its interesting bark too. Our 1999 plantings of Chinchilla White Gums for Dave Gordon's 100^th birthday celebration are getting taller and showing off the characteristic white trunks. Visitors who come during the quieter months see more of our wildlife are they are less frequently disturbed and they don't want to more during the heat of the day.