Wangiwriter's Blog

Patterns in Bark

I was at Parramatta Park again recently and went for my usual wanders in between periods of writing at the picnic tables.

One of the things I love about the park is the trees there. I love trees anywhere, actually.

This time however, I looked at them more closely, and saw, in a relatively small area, a wide range of species with very different bark.

I didn’t know many of the species, though I am sure anyone familiar with Australian trees would be able to identify many of these from their bark.

One of my favourite tree barks is that of the paperbark tree (various types of melaleuca). When I was younger, I often used to see pictures made from bark. The paperbark lends itself to that very well, as its bark peels off in soft papery sheets. Last year, after the death of my father, I took possession of two my late mother had hanging on the wall.

Melaleuca, paperbark tree

I found a stand of trees with an unusual and rough bark that I hadn’t noticed before, and had to include a photo here, as it is quite dramatic.

A tree with a very smooth bark rounds off the list, though there were several others I haven’t included here.

I love these different patterns, as well as their texture, and am constantly amazed at the variety that Nature displays.

What are the trees like where you live? Is there a good variety, or do the climate and geography limit what grows there?

(c) Linda Visman