We have two gum trees in our backyard, and one in our neighbours yard that shades our yard and provides a spectacular view from our deck.
Like most eucalyptus they have tall strong smooth trunks with the branch system well out of reach for climbing. What kind of gum is it? The Scribbly Gum Tree – An iconic Australian eucalypti with distinctive brown scribbles all over the tree.
The bark constantly sheds from darker brown to lighter, peeling back, so it is patched. But the really iconic and wondrous thing about these trees is the markings. What makes these markings you ask?
The larvae of the scribbly moth makes the markings in the bark of the tree. It does not hurt the tree at all.
The squiggles are all over the trunk, as far up as you can see. Always zig-zaggy, always dark. Like a natural graffiti and travel record of its life.
Can we also talk about how it is currently winter here, and this is my yard, with the light, and warmth and green beauty.