A creek with a waterfall rushing over rocks is a visual gift, where the ever-energetic and powerful yet lightly lacy water is combined with the stern dark hardness of rocks, facetted and shining or slimed with green slipperiness.
Once it’s calmed down after that splashing descent, the creek flows more gently, gradually finding small pathways and side bays on its way downstream, rounding its regular rocks.
As its way flattens, the water pours rather than rushes, with only small runs and cascades, stranding dampened leaves like platters of colour.
Fallen logs form more gentle and even hurdles to make new liquid shapes.
I admit to preferring the ease of the creek’s waterways to the rush of the waterfalls, and I am charmed by the Water Gums (Tristaniopsis laurina) that fringe its banks.
Its flowers are pretty but it is the quirks of its limbs and bark that appeal to me most.
Water washed and smooth, its roots intertwine. Strength in numbers against flood force?
It seems given to angled bends, to inexplicable elbows.
Some of these bear hollows where small plants like this fern have found a home.
But this is a vibrant creekside community, recovering after fierce floods laid many a tree low.
Even the dead trees have a role, as with this tiny hole like a wise eye, sheltering baby Water Gums.