B y W a lt e r W a r r in e r
C o n s u lt in g A r b o r is t
T r e e s p r o v i d e u s b e a u t y o n s o
m a n y le v e ls , m o r e t h a n I c a n c o u n t .
A lt h o u g h I a m a n a r b o r is t a n d I
p h o t o g r a p h t r e e s p r im a r ily fo r t e c h -
n ic a l p u r p o s e s , I d o n 't a lw a y s fo c u s
o n t h e s p e c ie s o f a t r e e w h e n I a m
p h o t o g r a p h in g it s b a r k . W h e n I
lo o k a t b a r k , I'm s t u d y in g t h e in t r i-
c a c ie s . W h e n e v e r p e o p le a s k m e
w h a t I'm t h in k in g a b o u t w h e n I
t a k e p h o t o s o f b a r k , I t e ll t h e m t h a t
I'm w o n d e r in g if I'll h a v e e n o u g h
r o o m fo r a ll t h e s e p h o t o s o n m y S D
c a r d . T h e n I ju s t lo o k a t t h e p e r s o n
a s k in g t h e q u e s t io n a n d s a y , "W h e n
I p h o t o g r a p h , I p h o t o g r a p h ."
This is the trunk of a lemon-scented gum tree
(Corymbia citriodora). As the tree trunk and branches
expand in girth, the outer layer of bark cracks and
flakes off in irregular patches. I caught this tree in
the very early stage of its bark just beginning to
crack. The bark will flake off over the next several
weeks, eventually revealing a new smooth layer.
A P ic t o r ia l C e le b r a t io n
urban-forestry.com 33
