This is my favourite tree located in a nearby street at the back of my house. I love it because it’s huge and stately and dominates its section of skyline.

I can also see it from our upstairs balcony. It’s a comforting tree and I’m facing west when looking through it at the sunset. Maybe that’s why I like it too, west is the direction of our family farm!

A few years ago, a council arborist came to inspect a tree we wanted removed. I asked him to come and look at my favourite tree to see if it was on the Heritage listing and to discover its age. He reported a few days later the tree was indeed listed as ‘significant’ and approximately 8o years of age. He claimed the species from Western Australia is Corymbia fisifolia Albany red flowering gum, previously known as Eucalyptus fisifolia. However according to Erickson(1973), Red flowering gum only grow to about 8 metres. The tree in question is much taller. Reading further, it appears Corymbia calophylla Marri or Port Gregory gum, are often mistaken for Corymbia fisifolia (Erickson 1973). They can grow to 40 metres and often cross or hybridise in the wild (Australian Native Plants Society – Australia 2012). This probably accounts for the trees size and mistaken identity!

Bright new shoots appear at the base of the tree.

 Today while sitting outside eating lunch, I heard a distinctive screeching bird call. I noticed a Yellow Tailed black cockatoo in the branches of a Banksia integrifolia var. integrifolia Coast banksia in our backyard. These birds are uncommon around here, so it was pretty exciting seeing one. Then a few more screeches came from further afield. I saw four or five others in the Corymbia, happily shredding bark from high up in the canopy. 

There must be some tasty bugs under that bark.