A magic tree
Drying plants is so therapeutic, the scents really travel like energy through the entire body. I’ve just finished one of the most aromatic ‘jobs’ I’ve ever done and I feel ecstatic. I am blessed with scents every day, but this one was pure bliss! It reminded me of my first encounter with a magnificent eucalyptus: I had already lived in Australia for a few years and enjoyed every discovery of a new eucalyptus variety without knowing that there was a special one with a delightful sweet lemon aroma! I fell in love with it at first sight and I am still under its mighty spell. It was in the Fawkner Park that I accidentally crushed a dried eucalyptus leaf in my hand a few years ago and got a burst of this wonderful lemon scent. I was intrigued at first as the leaves looked like eucalyptus, but smelled like lemon. Only to read later on that of the 700+ eucalyptus varieties, one and only one has this incredible lemon scent!
I looked around for the magic tree and actually found two of them: one female and one male, as they have become in my soul thereafter. They are a tall, majestic tree, with glowing pink skin, smooth and beautiful like the Tahitian girls in Gaugain’s paintings. Absolutely gorgeous!
That’s how I started to make a detour every day on my way to and from office, only to go near these 2 trees and pick up a fallen leaf to rub between my fingers. Those fallen leaves are the most outstanding symphony of yellow, pink and orange, just to complete their mesmerising perfume.
I love love love the lemon scented gum and planted one of them on our property. Fingers crossed it will survive our frosty springs!
Fast forward to present, today I made my very first batch of lemon scented eucalyptus infusion. I can’t wait to see how the potion turns out.
Love, Stefania
