One Christmas when I was a child my father brought home a gum bough from the bush as an alternative to the traditional pine tree. We all loved it, especially the scent of eucalyptus throughout the house. My mother was delighted to have  a break from falling pine needles.

Our ancestors adopted Australian cultural images at Christmas far more readily than we do today, although we are doing better lately.

Here is one image I loved. No need to cut a tree at all if you have big enough baubles!

Since I live at a property in the Blue Mountains called The Gums, I feel I should enter into the spirit of things. We already have quite a few Australian tree ornaments, including a banksia seed bell, a Norman Lindsay Magic Pudding, a Sydney Opera House and  a golden harbour bridge.

Before Covid struck my partner and Rob and I visited Perth.  In the city’s beautiful King’s Park I collected some gumnuts, with the vague notion of making Aussie tree decs.

I added a couple to my old wreath. The white flowers are fragrant star jasmine.

What about a little Aussie angel for the top of the tree? That looks easy enough.

GUM INSPIRED – CITY STYLE

How appropriate that when we arrived back in Sydney the historic Strand Arcade had chosen eucalypt leaves and gumnuts as their festive theme.

The following gorgeous, hand-crafted pieces are made by a delightful lady called Bre Lily. When she posted in a native flower group asking for more blossoms the response was overwhelming. However, the majority of people just wanted to know where they could buy them! (link at bottom of this story).

The author and illustrator May Gibbs would be delighted with the creativity of The Strand Arcade and Bre Lily.

My own gum leaf gift  tags are very ordinary by comparison, but people love them nevertheless.

An editorial in the Sydney Morning Herald in 1928 discussed choosing a suitable Australian Christmas tree to replace European pines. Should it be Christmas bush, or  banksia…. or any number of other contenders? The piece concluded;

The sapling Christmas Gum has a nostalgic fragrance that does more things to one’s heart than the sum-total beauty of all the others. I agree.

2022 has been so challenging, but;

HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS THIS YEAR!

NOTE – Here is a link to the magical jewellery of Bre Lily.