At the beginning of winter, on the weekend called Queen’s Birthday Weekend in Australia, we enjoyed the company of brothers and sisters and undertook a small bushwalk on the New South Wales central coast just north of Sydney. Twisted, gnarly Angophora costata trees are found in abundance in this area, rising above thick undergrowth, lifting their crooked limbs to the sun. Their trunks are smooth and often distinctly red.
What cataclysmic event in the life of this tree caused the development of such a shape in its trunk, I wonder?
At the summit a view of Lake Macquarie.
And time for a chat…….
Today, 18 March 2023, on National Eucalypt Day, the Sydney Red Gum, Angophora costata was named eucalypt of the year.
Magnificent, Jane. I was going to do a Eucalypt post too but how is it possible that it is already,Thursday?
https://twitter.com/eucalyptaus/status/1638737328838672385?s=61&t=5U-Unay5BqhUFz0lFlhkUg
Most wonderful photo of aa Angophera costata on Eucalypt Australia today Tracy. I wish I’d taken such a gorgeous shot myself.
Magnificent.
What lovely trees!
Thank you Megan.
The contorted shape of the trees is interesting and impressive – they’re survivors of everything nature throws at them. Enjoying a meet-up with siblings is a bonus!
They are indeed survivors, Kris. Even bushfires can’t prevent them from regrowing.
They are extremely tactile trees. I just want to rub my hands on those smooth trunks. Great shapes too.
I agree. A smooth eucalyptus trunk is a wondrous thing. I love the white ones also.
It looks like a beautiful forest. Sounds like you had a wonderful walk with your family. Wonderful also to honor a genus of native trees.
There is an Angophora in Los Angeles, quite an impressive specimen!
https://californiabigtrees.calpoly.edu/bt-tree-detail/359
It’s certainly impressive, HB and must have been well cared for as it’s quite straight and certainly very healthy. I enjoyed looking at the big tree registry. Thank you.
What a beautiful walk – through a living sculpture! The resilience of plants are fascinating.