Destructive But Beautiful

Chopping firewood is such satisfyingly blunt work. It appeals to the he-man in me who likes action and not words. But even my inner he-man felt a wave of emotion as I clonked this massive bit of dead treee in half.

The inner circle was fabulously fragile evidence of termite work (breathe P breathe...). The latice work is so delicate I had to record it. I understand how artists like William Morris were inspired by the patterns of nature.

 Close up the wet mass is paper thin and layered endlessly into a neat ball.

It is a challenge to do it justice. It looks like mud with the misty sheen of rain on it but it is brittle.

The underside is damaged and reveals the delicate work of the termites in full glory.

[UPDATE 30 May 2011: See here for photos of this termite city after it had dried out]