I’m fortunate enough to live on a fairly large block of land, away from suburbia. Pockets of natural bushland dot the region – one of which is right at my front gate.
There was a small area of bushland near the house of my childhood too – and favourite memories include the multiple times I looked for, and sometimes even spotted, the koala among the high foliage of a eucalypt tree.
You always knew they were there because of their distinct smell, uniquely eucalypt and mammal.
Since moving to our current home in July 2006, there have been only two occasions where a koala has taken up residence in one of the eucalyptus trees near our front gate. From memory, they stayed for a few weeks, and then disappeared again – I didn’t much notice.
But a few days ago, leaving for the gym early in the morning, when the wind was still and the pre-dawn around me heightened my senses, I smelled koala again. It wasn’t an overpowering fragrance, but enough to know one was there.
Such instantaneous joy! And wonder, that a smell can evoke such delight! I smiled for hours.
I love that a koala has taken up residence in one of the eucalypt trees outside my front gate.
Now to just catch a glimpse of him (or her) resting up in the branches during the warmth of the day!
Wish me luck 🙂
– KRidwyn