I've joined a U3A class that takes as stroll through the Australian National Botanic Gardens once a week to learn more about the gardens and the plants. I was delighted and surprised to discover Sturt's Desert Pea, Swainsona formosa, growing; it's difficult to cultivate outside natural central Australian desert environment as it's prone to disease.

Although Swainsona formosa is a perennial, the ANBG has to regrow them each year from seed, as they do not survive the frosty Canberra winters.

Swainsona formosa is a symbol of Charles Sturt University, where I studied theology.