The Bees Knees

There are some really nice gum/eucalyptus trees in some of the parks around Melbourne. There is something I like about gum trees - maybe its the shape of the trees or the often unusual bark.

I've tried to blip whole gum trees a couple of times but have never been happy with the results. Something to do with wanting to get close up detail on picture that includes a whole tree taken from far away.

This is a Red Flowering Gum (or Corymbia Ficifolia) that I walk by on the way to work. It is only 7 feet high and has fantastic flowers that attract honey bees and other pollinators.

After the petals (which in this case are really lots and lots of stamens) fall off, the cup like base of the flower is left. As the cups dry out they get darker and harden and add more character to the tree.

I think will go back and attempt to get some great honey bee pictures and some shots showing all the flowers stages (I think I've just found a reason to get a tripod).

Oh the good big gum tree shot is still to be captured. Any tips or suggestions on photographing big trees would be appreciated.

:-)