Sandra and I have been married for over 40 years but have always had a love for both exotic and native trees, eucalypts in particular.
When our children were born we planted trees on their birth dates, 35 and 36 years ago. Because we chose big trees to celebrate their births we decided to plant them in the local park that was totally devoid of trees opposite our home.
For our daughter, Linda, who is a Garden Angel on Foxtel’s Lifestyle channel, we planted a Sydney Blue Gum, Eucalyptus saligna. It grew quickly and established into a fine specimen of a tree.
For our son, Kent, who lives in London and manages our garden tour office there, we planted a Flooded Gum, Eucalyptus grandis. It too took off and developed into a wonderful canopy too.
Over the years the two trees have been attacked by the council mowers, edge trimmers, borers, and the occasional flock of Sulphur Crested Cockatoos. But this didn’t deter either tree, it actually seemed to make them more determined to not only survive but thrive.
Over three and half decades later the Flooded Gum is the taller, much to Linda’s disgust, but both are gigantic forest trees filled with possums, birds and insects. They are their own ‘web of life’ in the suburbs.
We left the area sadly some years ago and always hoped the trees would survive, and boy did they ever.
The staff at the council changed as did the local residents to the point that a petition from locals to “add to the remnant original trees”, was looked favourably upon by the council. They planted dozens more similar gum trees. They now tower over the park like an old growth Blue Gum forest from the 19th Century.
Our children still return to those trees pumping out enough oxygen for several families. During their lives they’ve told each other secrets under the trees, made up after arguments and shared the trees with our grand daughter, Melaleuca. Life goes on.
And in case you were wondering, yes Linda planted a Broad leafed Paperbark, Melaleuca quinquenervia in their garden when her beautiful daughter was born two years ago.
It’s a great tradition that all young families should start.
