Bushwalking

Last weekend we ducked out to a local park to have a picnic, and a short bush walk.

We are lucky enough to live right on the edge of a National Park, which means there are many bush walks within a few minutes of us. We moved here when I was still pregnant with William, so we’ve not done much long distance walking (I was either too whale-like, or the kids too small to take the steep grades). There is a lot of up and down in our area!

The native bush in Northern Sydney is full of gum trees of various shapes and colours: absolutely beautiful trees.

There is evidence of bushfire back-burning in this area, with a fair bit of regrowth over the spring and summer. In the next picture, check out all the blackened tree trunks, and in the foreground there is a flowering “grass tree” (Xanthorrhoea). It’s a grassy-shrub with a long reed-like spike coming out of the top.

This area is full of grass trees, but they don’t flower very often. We have a grass tree in a pot at home, but it has not flowered yet, and I’ve had it at least ten years. They are very slow growing plants.

There are also a couple of really big burnt out trees that are so hollow, much of the tree trunk is missing.

That one is so big I think you could fit a park bench across it!

This one is right by the path, and William loves to peek through that hole when I’m on the other side. 🙂

I don’t how these trees stay upright! They are so beautiful with their scribbly bark.

And then there’s this fabulous view: