A silver lining

It has been ten months since the bush fire (Feb 2009) on our block.

This is what it looked like immediately after.

The zamias and grass trees were the most resilient as they are built to withstand fire.

Despite the flames and heat green centres remained.

This photo below was taken in July 09.

The photo below was taken last week, 9th Dec 2009.

There is a carpet of green shoots from the huge variety of native shrubs and plants that covered the ground before the fire. Few spring flowers appeared this year but there is no doubt they will be back next Spring - probably stronger than ever.

By October the majority of the grass trees had grown a flower stalk.

We had never seen so many produce a stalk at the same time and believe it must have been a result of the fire.

When they flowered they were constantly covered in bees from the two hives on our block.

What we missed out on with Spring flowers we gained in orchids.

We have never seen such a variety of orchids on the block.
Below: Blue Fairy orchids

Little Pink Fairy orchids

Bunny orchids

Jug orchids

Leaping spider orchid Calendenia attigens

Cyanicula ixioides

Yellow China Orchid

These only occur after a bush fire so quite rare.

Cyanicula gemmata

Sun Orchid

Snail orchid

Microtis Mignonette

White China Orchid

These also only occur after a fire.

Isn't this wonderful?

From a blackened and seemingly dead tree bursts bright vigorous growth.

Most of the burned Wandu have bright green shoots erupting from charcoal-like bark.

It's an uplifting sight after such devastation.