I pass this tree each day that I go for a walk and it takes me back to my childhood. I remember walking with my Grandma in the bush around our farm and seeing these trees. Grandma would tell me it is the bush newspaper and this idea took further root when I read "Snugglepot and Cuddlepie" by May Gibbs.
Here you see the bush newspaper being updated and little Snugglepot and Cuddlepie riding on Mr Lizard's back in the background. Gorgeous illustrations, cruddy photo.
The scribbly gum is an attractive eucalyptus with the most enchantingly smooth and pale bark (I always have to touch it and say hello). Upon this lovely surface intriguing brown squiggles or 'scribbles' meander haphazardly over the trunk. May Gibbs wrote of the scribbles being messages left by the bush creatures and gumnut babies. Science however says it is the work of none other than this native moth. I prefer the thought of gumnuts, flower fairies and Mr Lizard meeting there at the tree daily to catch up on the news. I wonder what things have happened in their world as I slept and rather like the fanciful thought of them being out there living in my garden and in the bush beyond my fence. Happy thought.
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