Nature's Ribbons

The worst drought in over a hundred years (in Australia) is finally broken.  The rains have transformed the parched and burnt landscape

to velvet strips of purples and greens.  The lush verbena (while not the farmer's friend) are nevertheless the lilies of the fields and now adorns the valley like a plush purple carpet.  The weeds know how to replenish the depleted soil with nitrogen.  When allowed to grow and complete their natural cycle, the soil is quickly enriched and then when planted, the crops grow well and thrive with little interference.  (Ref: 'Back from the Brink: How Australia's Landscape can be Saved' by Peter Andrews.)

The slides below show the 'before' and 'after' pictures of the transformation.

click on the 'next' button to forward through the slides).
Previous Slide 1/16 NextRibbons of Purple and GreenSophie magpie with Emmy and Missy horses - will they see grass ever againThere seems no end to worst drought inover a hundred yearsThe few shoots from slight rains dry up quicklyVicky and Maggie wonder what the season will bring for their broodBut a little more rain and nature bounces backand the landscape begins to reviveas more rain falls the grassturns lusherasing all earlier traces of droughtVerbena that had survived the dry spellnow thrives.The burnt earth springs into lifeas ribbons of velvet green and purple to Hewey and Mum Pollyand the hare's delightBlossoms all around

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