This mature pine leans a branch above the traffic of the A415.
At first glance it appears precarious — as though the next named storm might bring it down. But a look back at Google Street View from June 2008 shows the tree had this shape nearly two decades ago.
Pines often grow into wind-shaped forms, but in this case the outline may owe more to the gradual loss of other branches over the years. What remains is an ivy-clad trunk and a strong side-leaning branch.
In Albert Park, among other leaning pines, it would not catch the eye. Here, however, it is quite a feature leaning above a busy road.
We used to live there. Every storm we had, I was amazed the tree stayed up, as it’s planted in a waist-high bank. I can only assume the roots actually go all the way down to the solid ground that the bank stands on.