Ray Brown is a big name in grevilleas.
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So big, in fact, that there is one named after him – the Grevillea raybrownii.
For 30 years the professional gardener has been volunteering his time to take care of the Illawarra Grevillea Park, hidden up behind the Bulli Showground.
Music fans may know the park as a venue for the Illawarra Folk Festival, but the park in September is an entirely different creature to its summer incarnation.
In fact this year is said by some to be the best flowering season there in memory. With more than 200 different grevillea species, plus dozens of hybrids, the park is an astounding monument to Australian native flora.
But time won’t wait. The park is holding open days this Saturday and Sunday, as well as next weekend, after which it won’t be long before the plants are given a major spring prune.
Grevillea lovers and just plain curious can explore the huge gardens, check out species they may never have seen, get growing advice and inspiration, and even lay eyes on the first ever plants of some grevillea species.
The stunning Bulli princess, which is now widely available in nurseries, sprang out of the ground at the park about 10 years ago, bred from two plants nearby, tended and reared by Mr Brown until it was established enough to “send to market”. The very first plant is still there.
“It was just a seedling that popped up here,” Mr Brown said. “You can see the parents in it.”
The Illawarra Grevillea Park is open from 10am-4pm this, and next, Saturday and Sunday. Entry $5.
