Bark – trees’ skin – resembles humans’ skin, in having a vibrantly alive innermost layer, and a dead outermost one.
However, some healthy trees’ skin-shedding is a much more spectacular (and beautiful) process than is any healthy human’s.
In this respect, Australia’s Eucalypts are “world champions”.
At this time of year, in Australia, the “annual show” is on, somewhere very near you, almost anywhere.
The trunks and branches of some smooth-barked eucalypt species have utterly different “faces” at different times of the year.
When entirely wrapped in “old” bark, they look dull/subdued, with a shaggy or matt finish.
Immediately after their annual bark-shedding has concluded, the same trunks and branches may be sleek, bright, almost-white, glowing.
I took all of this post’s photos between 6.54 pm and 7.19 pm on Friday December 1 – officially, the first day of Australia’s Summer.
Railway Parade, West Leederville, is 4 minutes by train from Perth’s CBD, and “straight over the tracks” from Subiaco Oval.
If you do not already know exactly what bark is, click here.
For an amusing explanation of why trees shed their bark, click this.
Eucalypts’ bark is addressed here.
With the exception of the sugar gum, above, this post’s trees are all spotted gums, I think.
On a hot day their breathing drenches the nearby air with delicious scents of lemon and/or lemongrass, sometimes laced with a hint of ginger or talcum powder.
Great pix Doug.