For my weekly bush walk, I went into my usual spot within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park, which is called Bobbin Head. The name comes from a rock in the creek which looks like a ‘bobbing head’ in the water at high tide. This was later shortened to the aforementioned Bobbin Head. I’ve only just learnt this today, even though I’ve visited this area for years!
I don’t have a picture of the rock, but one thing I love about the area is the hills covered in trees. It makes me feel like I really am in the middle of nowhere, even though I’m on the edge of Sydney.
I was intrigued by this she-oak on my walk. It’s the first time that I have ever seen the female flowers of this swamp she-oak, or any other she-oak flowers for that matter. They are very pretty though, I’m glad I spotted them on my way past.
These delightful little white flowers are from the river mangrove. I love walking along the mangrove boardwalk. On every visit, it is a little different as the creek here is still tidal. Water levels vary, little critters come and go and there are always birds moving around the landscape and making their calling noises. I’m also by the water-I’m in my happy place down here!
Here is a fine example of a Sydney red gum, Angophora costata, my all-time favourite tree. They are knobbly, knarly and have the best colour of any bark ever known! I don’t know what has happened with this particular branch, but I love the fact that it’s a little odd looking!
I do like looking into the bush with nothing to see but a range of plants. It has its own beauty that I love being surrounded by at any opportunity. I sat nearby for at least half an hour watching the world go by. I didn’t see a soul for that whole time, which made it even better!
On the bark of another Sydney red gum are these markings. I’m not sure what critter has caused these marks, I’ve never seen them on a red gum before. More research is needed-another thing to add to my ever-expanding list of things to look into!
The old man banksia, Banksia serrata, is a favourite of mine. The flowers are great, of course, but I also love the bark of these trees. Very much wrinkly and knobbly by nature, reminiscent of the ‘old man’ they are named after. It’s a shame they have finished flowering for the moment, but there is always the next season for it!
As always I loved my walk. I was planning on going somewhere else for my weekly bush walk, but they were doing some hazard reduction burns nearby. It worked out very well, I still got my peace and quiet in the bush so I cannot complain!