27 Sep 2025 FILM DIARY

This year, the fresh green leaves of Spring appeared some two weeks later than usual on the deciduous trees lining Southport Avenue, thanks to a cold Winter. The English oak, which I photographed, is native to most of Europe and western Asia. There are no native oaks in Australia. This is a particularly remarkable tree. Despite being half dead, it retains a vigorous growth of new leaves. Deciduous native trees grow in the northern parts of Australia and shed their leaves to conserve water supply to the tree. Deciduous trees in the northern hemisphere lose their leaves as protection against cold weather.