Texture, Foliage, Form and Colour

Here’s something new to think about when you’re selecting plants ~ and it’s a very ‘apeeling’ aspect.

When we visit the local nursery, or consult a landscape designer, most of us have three things in mind for the plants we want: size, flower colour and flowering time. Oh, and whether deciduous or evergreen.

But there’s another aspect, especially with trees. And while we may note it and comment upon it seasonally, it’s seldom on the buying checklist.

It’s the bark. The bark of Aussie trees reflects the seasons in exactly the same way as do the flowers. It’s no coincidence that a flush of spring growth is followed by the trunk and branches expanding ~ take a close look midway through spring and you will see the bark beginning to stretch, then split, then loosen as it peels away, revealing the fine texture of the new skin.

Stretch

Split

Loosen

It’s a gorgeous process to watch. The colours are startling in their intensity, and every day a new ‘look’ awaits you.

Just as animals (and humans) shed their coats in one form or another, each plant has its own unique response to the seasons of growth.

Next time you pass by a tree, pause awhile. Look at its trunk, its branches, its delicate new skin beneath the old and curling bark. Remember that your eyes are the very first to see this ~ and isn’t that something to be excited about?

And look at the ground, carpeted with fragments of colour. It’s not a ‘mess’ to be raked up and scorned, it’s a story of growth, health and new life to be turned over and understood, like the pages of a book.

You won’t be disappointed. An entirely new experience of learning and sensuality awaits you.

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