Eucalyptus Tree

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How many times have we walked past a tree and not really taken the tree in?  I am flanked on both sides by two Eucalyptus trees in the neighbouring gardens to my left and my right which if I’m honest I’ve paid very little attention to.

A chance remark by a guest who was delighted to see the trees, which can’t be missed from our patio called me to pay more attention to this beautiful tree. For my guest it evoked memories of home to see the trees, which are native to their place of birth in Australia. I was a bit disappointed that I hadn’t paid much attention to either of these trees, which tower above the other trees in the area.When I really discovered the tree she was in full blossom. A blossom easily, camouflaged by the faint pale white colour of the flowers that remained almost hidden amongst the mint coloured green leaves.

Normally I flirt with trees with thick, solid trunks and who are likely to have been alive for over a hundred years.  The Eucalyptus tree, slim and yielding with a charcoal grey bark seems young and sober in comparison and less inviting that the types of trees I am normally captivated by.But from the moment of the Eucalyptus’s identity I began imagining Koala bears clambering up her trunk with babies on their back. Once a year the bark is shed in huge slabs and displays new colours, ranging from pale cream to light orange. Once the new bark is worn in the colour fades to a light grey, and then weathers a little more until the medium grey is back for the rest of the year. There’s always more to the trees we look at on a regular basis. 

Most days the Eucalyptus is the first tree my eyes fall on when I sit down at my desk and turn to look outside my office window. I can tell the weather by the shape and formation one of these trees makes as it bows to the force of the wind or whether she is standing tall and straight indicating that this will be a day of little wind, but will be calm. I love the way the leaves of the tree shakes and shimmering in the breeze looking like fists waving energetic hellos.

I never tire looking at the Eucalyptus tree now and am glad that I have really connected with her.