Yesterday I ventured off with a few of our kids hoping to get some firewood as stocks were desperately running low. I say hoping as I found a great tree last time that filled my trailer and yet it seemed like I had hardly touched it. So I was eager to find out whether someone else had also enjoyed my discovery or whether it would still be there for me to continue scavenging from.

Fortunately it hadn’t been touched since I was last there. I was able to fill my trailer again (usually 6 weeks worth of firewood) and there is probably still a load or two to go.

One of the great things about collecting firewood is the enjoyment I, and the kids, get out of being in the forest. While I’m sawing away they will go exploring and become infatuated with some awesome discovery keen to show me once the saw’s been cut off. And, in between fuel refills I’ll take the opportunity to get the camera and snap some of our gorgeous flora. Here’s a selection of some of our bounty;
This is the tree that I’ve been cutting. The one standing upright is a Red Gum.

Firewood of choice comes from these beautiful Jarrah’s (Swan River Mahogany). A hard wood tree that can reach 30-50m when mature and are straight as a pin. When they burn they leave a tiny amount of white ash and very little mess.

This is almost the perfect toadstool that you often see in kid’s story books. Obviously poisonous from its dark red cap but nice to photograph.

Eremophila sp. (Emu Bush). These grow in abundance throughout our forests and while breeders have now managed multiple colours this is the original.

I’m not sure what this one is but was intrigued by it’s gorgeous florets. I’m guessing it’s a relative of the grevillea family.

Another plant that we found growing in abundance and flowering their heads off. Notice the spiky foliage that the plant requires to withstand the fauna. Incredible.