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Thursday, August 26, 2010

The hollow tree...


Earlier this Winter, June 13th to be precise, I took a walk up the side lane;


heading towards the large eucalypt on the left


I'd passed it so often but hadn't thought to look inside



It is completely hollow, 
right through to a 'door' the other side.
When I was lining up this shot
my little dog walked through that opening
and I screamed at him to get out.
I wish I'd clicked as he walked in!
But I was afraid he'd disappear down the void;


a huge wombat hole
that our neighbour has stuffed with wire.
There was also fresh evidence
that a 'wommy' had been there earlier.


I didn't think to look up inside
to see how far up the space went.
Next time.


On this little path there are
many majestic eucalypts


It's obvious why they're a favourite subject
for many an Aussie artist


There's another one
with a 'wommy' hole


but I wasn't about to crawl through a fence
and walk across boggy land to get to it.

"A tree whose hungry mouth is prest
against the earth's sweet flowing breast."


Excerpt from Joyce Kilmer's "Trees"

20 comments:

gésbi said...

Beautiful land and photos ! - mysteriously beautiful trees.

karen said...

Those are some incredibly beautiful trees Alaine. How fortunate to live so close to them. I wonder...are they the same trees that are used for the fragrant branches sold here in the states? We can get them in brown or green dried of course, and I just love how they make the whole house smell. They seem more like they would be from a shrub.
Thanks for taking me along on your walk.

gerry boyd said...

cool post! thanks.

alaine@éclectique said...

le style et la matière...they are lovely trees; I often go tree gazing!

alaine@éclectique said...

MG...Karen, they probably are dried eucalyptus; there are many varieties, different shaped leaves. I should get out and about more often; I love seeing where other bloggers live and, I have found, many love to see a bit of Australia.

alaine@éclectique said...

Gerry...thank you!

Paul C said...

A tree with a lot of stature and stories... Beautiful scenery.

Nancy said...

They are fascinating. Those little "wommies" are busy, aren't they? The trees don't seem to mind - they keep right on growing. Accommodating.

Wanda..... said...

I really appreciate unique trees. I have a few hollow trees back in the woods; granddaughter Alivia can walk through one, but your tree has a bit more character.

alaine@éclectique said...

Paul C....yes, that's exactly what I was thinking; the stories, the changes.

alaine@éclectique said...

Nancy...yes, the wombats are very busy at night time. Occasionally we see one running back to its den early in the morning. We have to be very cautious driving at night, as they run across the road and can do a lot of damage to a car. Quite often we see one on the side of the road, all fours in the air.

Betsy Brock said...

Oh, that tree is just wonderful! I love seeing inside it! I can't believe how tall and massive they get..just gorgeous! Puts our little maple trees to shame! ha.

I'm loving your new header!

alaine@éclectique said...

Wanda...I did intend to walk in but the floor was sloping down to that hole.

They are unique...I noticed the other day that the first tree is really three trees!

alaine@éclectique said...

Betsy...I love maples! We have a few Japanese Maples here and the colour in Autumn in amazing!

The header is our garden one frosty morning a couple of weeks ago. The sun rising in the East. Hubby can take the credit for that one!

Tess Kincaid said...

When I was a girl, I dreamed of living in a hollow tree just like Sam in "My Side of the Mountain". I do believe your's is just the right size! Magical.

Anonymous said...

What beautiful countryside and what a fabulous (in its true sense) tree. It - or rather they, as I can see how two or three have grown together - is full of magic. We don't have many Eucalypti in Scotland and it always a treat to see one in a garden, with that beautiful bark and graceful foliage.

I don't think I can possibly match your wonderful tree post for this week's Tuesday Tree!

Lyn said...

Surely amongst the most magical trees I've seen..they must be the sort that move from place to place at night!!

alaine@éclectique said...

Willow...I had to go look up that film; looks like a lovely childrens' pic.

alaine@éclectique said...

dancingbeastie...I love your tree posts; so beautiful in that part of the world.

alaine@éclectique said...

Lyn...they certainly have a lot of character!