The Marri Tree.

Kingdom: Plants

Family: Myrataceae

Corymbia calophylla Marri

The Forest Heritage Centre in Dwellingup is situated amongst the South West Australia Forest and the the Marri species is our one of our local Australian gum trees. This large Eucalyptus tree grows to a height of about 40 metres and this widespread species can grow readily in our poorer soils.

We offer guided tours at the Forest Heritage Centre, Dwellingup, and part of the tour is to recognise the difference between the Marri and Jarrah trees. The Marri has a condensed fish scale like looking bark and large gum nuts whereas the Jarrah has a long skinny bark and small ‘honkey nuts’.

Flowering Marri are a beautiful sight with their yellow cream coloured flowers,the golden honey produced by bees from these flowers has a wonderful mellow taste.

The wood of the Marri is used quite a lot in Furniture Making and has a golden glow, to this light coloured wood.

West Australia has Guitar makers that utilise this wood for their impressive instruments, West Australian Ellis Guitars make some of the best quality instruments in the world and some of these are used by renowned artists including Jeff Martin to Blues singer songwriter Ash Grunwald,(who plays a mean Ellis Stompbox, by the way!).

Artists are inspired by the Marri, its flowers nuts and fruits, and one architectural designed grates featured at Karrakatta Cementary, Perth Western Australia, uses interpretations of the Marri’s gum nuts and flowers.

The local aboriginal Noongyar tribe used the red gum of the Marri Tree for medicinal purposes including helping with tummy upsets and various aches and pains.

An old Bushmans Tale quotes that if the Marri (Redgum) flowers profusely then Western Australia is in for a good winter e.g. cold, rainy, windy, icy, stormy, winter.

This tree along with other Australian Flora and Fauna can be viewed when you walk our Jarrah/Marri forest and our Canopy tree top walk at the

Forest Heritage Centre, Dwellingup.

If you have any amazing Facts or Questions about this or any other forest flora and fauna that we can update our page with, please feel free to email ‘Dana’ web@forestheritagecentre.com.au or write them in the text box below.



Thanks to Dana-Robin Berry for contributing this article to our Canopies blog:

How to Make Money Online

Did you ever find yourself looking for something to cover the kid’s sand box to keep the animals out of it? If your children have a sand box that does not have a cover, think about using a tarp. They are ideal for keeping stray animals out of the place where your children play. They are durable enough to make a great cover and most have riveted holes so you can tie them down. They can protect your children’s play area and keep wind and rain from scattering the sand.

Tarps are handy for covering just about anything that you want to keep dry or protected from the sun. Due to the fact that they come in an array of sizes, you will be sure to find one that is just right for the job. Do you have firewood that you want to keep dry? How about covering your boat for the winter with a heavy duty, waterproof tarp?

There are many different uses around the home for tarps. They can be used to cover furniture or carpet for painting. You can use them to protect your car if you don’t have a garage. Use a tarp for covering a leaky spot on your roof until you can get it repaired.

If you have an outside pet, put up a tarp over his area to keep the hot summer sun from beating on him. Using one of these over a kennel will keep him from being exposed to the blazing sun on those hot, humid days. Planning on having an outside birthday party or get together? Using a tarp as a canopy can provide you with an area to set up the tables with food and gifts.

If you need a quick idea for the kids who are out on summer vacation to cool off in the back yard, use a tarp as a slide with your water hose. They will enjoy their impromptu slide and this may be a cure for the “I’m bored” syndrome that you begin to hear a couple of weeks into their vacation. Use a tarp to make a play area for small children to protect them from the sun. If you have clothes line you can put a tarp over the lines and have a makeshift play house.

Do you need something to put yard sale items on and don’t have enough tables? Spread a tarp on the ground for your toys, games, linens, and various other yard sale items that you want to display. Use one for one price items. You can have a 50 cent tarp, a dollar tarp, whatever you decide. You could also use one for a sunshade over your yard sale.

When most people think of tarps they think of the old green or gray colored covers. Today tarps come in a lot of different colors. You can choose from white, red, silver, yellow, and even camouflage. You can still get the gray or green if you want but the choices have expanded and if you want to draw attention to something, red will do the job. This would be a great idea for your yard sale.

Tarps are perfect for covering furniture when you move. They are heavy duty enough to protect your furniture from dust and dirt and keep tables from getting scratched. The different sizes available will allow you to choose the right one for covering mirrors, couches, appliances, and more. No one likes to move and arrive at your new home to discover that your washer or dryer has a big scratch on it or your favorite table has been nicked. Tarps can prevent this from happening and keep your furniture safe and secure until you arrive at your new home.

Cover your lawn furniture for the winter with a tarp if you do not have a garage or building to store it. Tarps are available that are waterproof and crack resistant. This is the perfect solution to a limited storage area.

Do you have shrubs or small plants that need to be covered when the temperatures get below freezing? A tarp will do the job and keep them from getting burned by frost. With the grommets on the sides of the tarp you can easily run a small rope through to tie the tarp down and prevent it from blowing away.

There are so many sizes and colors of tarps to choose from that there is sure to be one to fit your needs.



Thanks to Robert Page for contributing this article to our Canopies blog:

Have you claimed your Genesis site?

Don’t automatically assume you’re protected. According to one national survey, nearly 60 percent of businesses are seriously underinsured. In the event of a major claim, the survey showed that the underinsured could find that the upper limit of their policy payout is 20 percent less than what they need in today’s market.

Just because you have an insurance policy, doesn’t mean you have the right one. The difference between the right policy and the wrong one could cost your business hundreds of thousands of dollars if your insurance coverage is not adequate. When a loss happens, you need help - what you don’t need is to learn that there is no coverage to recoup your losses. The best time to get educated is now, before that scenario occurs.

The Coverage You Need

Unlike other businesses, there is no standard policy for your industry. The rental and equipment dealer has various unique risks and coverage needs that need to be individually evaluated for the proper insurance coverage. There are several factors that you should consider when insuring your business.

• Make sure you are insured with a specialist

Don’t insure your business with someone who doesn’t know your industry. Just because your brother-in-law sells home owner policies doesn’t mean that you should let him write your insurance. You may be doing him a favor and not yourself. Seek out someone who understands and works in the industry and can provide you the maximum coverage available.

• Choose financial Strength and Stability

Make sure you are with an A+ rated insurance carrier from A.M. Best. You can find out how your current insurance carrier is rated at www.ambest.com. This rating system shows a client what a company’s financial strength is and its ability to meet their obligations. Remember, an insurance program is only as good as the company that stands behind it. Be cognizant of the inferior choices out there that may leave your business vulnerable.

• Customized Coverage

Again, it is imperative that you have an insurance policy tailored your business needs. This must include your unique coverage needs such as conversion, in transport, equipment breakdown and off premises. Do your research and make sure your policy covers these areas.

• All Lines of Insurance

When picking your insurance carrier, make sure that they cover all lines of insurance. This means that their policy includes but is not limited to property, general liability, auto coverage, inland marine, and workers compensation. Placing all of your insurance coverage with one carrier provides you with easier claim handling and decreases your chance of having gaps in your insurance coverage from one carrier to the next.

Ultimate Service

In an industry that caters to the needs of a diverse group of rental customers, it is fundamental to provide high-quality service. Whether they are renting party goods or homeowner and contractor equipment, your customers rely on you to provide high-quality equipment in good working condition – when they need it.

With that in mind, you should demand that same level of service from your insurance provider. It is their job to ensure that your business and your equipment are covered. Replacement cost, conversion, and off premise coverage should be a standard in your policy. If you don’t have an adequate amount of coverage, your business may be seriously underinsured. In the event of a major loss, there is a very strong chance that your current policy will fall very short of what you need.

Strategic Partner

Most people hate insurance until the time comes when they need it. I believe we all need to see insurance in the light of people helping each other maintain financial security. For example, in early civilization, if a house burnt down, the members of the community banded together and helped build a new one. If someone wasn’t willing to help, they were perceived as a bad neighbor and the community wasn’t as willing to help them out in the future. In today’s insurance world, there are plenty of “bad neighbors” out there who only want to collect premiums and are not concerned with helping you. Once you received a quote and paid your premium, your coverage is bound and you believe that your business is adequately covered, right? Maybe! Don’t make your business vulnerable because you are not educated about the company that is insuring your business and the type of coverage they provide. Do your research. There are A+ rated companies out there who have the knowledge and capability to protect your company for that “just in case moment.” For the sake of your business, seek out those insurance companies that have custom policies for your industry and can provide you with proper coverage, industry expertise, and financial strength and stability.



Thanks to Matthew Davis for contributing this article to our Canopies blog:

Outdoor Patio Covers

Living in a home with a garden surrounded with floral accents and a well-crafted gazebo provides the sense of tranquility and a welcoming ambiance in a home. Home owners usually can opt for an enclosed or open structure which can be of varying uses. A gazebo, whether small or large spaced structure will always be perfect for quiet moments of sitting in a garden and for holding small or big parties.

Building a gazebo to a garden adds to the dimension of the yard and perks up the garden’s characters. How to build a gazebo can be rather quick to do with the proper materials to use.

This really doesn’t need to be such a daunting task or one which an expensive contractor is needed or anything like that. This is a home project which anyone can do with just a little planning and a dash of creativity and drive to help improve your home. After all, who wouldn’t be proud telling people that, “Yeah, see that gazebo? I made that!” It is truly a perfect conversation starter and in the end a whole lot easier than you would first think.

One can learn how to build a gazebo through some basic steps. Home improvement stores online and offline venues offer different gazebo kits that come with the needed supplies to use for measuring the detailed drawings required for the gazebo construction.

How to build a gazebo is made more convenient by purchasing a gazebo kit since it includes the rest of the needed supplies that are not included on the kit. Before anyone builds a gazebo, it is wise to choose an area where to build the gazebo which must be away from any power lines and with a surface level.

One should check the surface from rocks and debris. One can prepare how to build a gazebo by framing the surface with a 2 by 4 pieces of plywood. Some gazebo kit may require pouring the area with concrete footings.

Unpack the contents of the boxes included in the kit while separating the different items for the wall, ceiling and floor. When you build a gazebo the floor is first assembled. To assemble the deck, nail the top of each section of the floor boards.

The most common shape for gazebos is octagon shape. Expect that the gazebo kit will be in eight sections. One should follow the rest of the instructions from the gazebo kit to assemble the ceiling and the walls.

Learning how to build a gazebo is made easier with a gazebo kit. It is also important to take into consideration the type of soil and the drainage system on the area where one intends to build a gazebo.

Whether anyone builds a gazebo using a pre-packaged kit or when they build a gazebo from scratch it is important to begin the construction from the base and the flooring then to establish posts and walls for support and then progress to the cupola and the roof.



Thanks to John Grant for contributing this article to our Canopies blog:

Wedding Tent Decorations

Getting a gazebo is a terrific idea to enhance the appearance as well as providing you a stylish relax environment in your garden. It is excellent for family gathering, romantic dinner, or even quite reading place to enjoy with a cup of coffee.

After deciding to build a gazebo in your garden, now it’s time to choose between gazebo plans or gazebo kits for construction.

First let’s take a look at gazebo plans. Most gazebo plans come with a list of materials, which often includes the exact size and numbers needed for the boards, nails, screws and hinges.

For a complete gazebo plan it comes with an actual blue print for the structure, inclusive of a detailed set of instructions for assembling, pricing information and list of major retailers that are likely to carry the needed materials.

Gazebo plans come in all sorts of variations, including octagonal and hexagonal model. Nowadays, you can choose to purchase gazebo plans online, given the multimedia options that each given program offers. Some gazebo plans sites are offering a plan for a 10-foot gazebo for as little as $20.

Gazebo kits are the most popular way people choose to build their gazebo.

Imagine, having someone come to your house and assemble a gazebo for you? It can be extremely pricey. With gazebo kit it reduced your construction cost significantly.

Whether you are looking for a nice backyard gazebo in Amish or Victorian style to place in your garden or looking for a gazebo to cover your hot tub, chances are there are gazebo kits for you.

Practically any shape or size you can imagine in a gazebo is available as a kit.

Most backyard gazebo kits are actually designed for wooden gazebos, not concrete gazebos. Wooden gazebos kits are mostly constructed from pressure treated pine wood or rock solid cedar.

Gazebos Kits vary in ease-of-assembly, construction materials needed, size, building instruction quality, and price. Some of the top notch gazebo kits on the market, such as Amish-made gazebos, can run you over $10,000 for even 8 by 8 models.

It’s not difficult to build a gazebo by yourself. Choose the style that match your house and needs, and then decide on your favorite material, size and design of gazebo. And you are all ready to spend this beautiful summer building a stunning gazebo with friends and family members for a time of gathering.



Thanks to Louis Russell for contributing this article to our Canopies blog:

Dog Bed Canopy