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 Next Ribbons of Purple and Green Sophie magpie with Emmy and Missy horses - will they see grass ever again There seems no end to worst drought in over a hundred years The few shoots from slight rains dry up quickly Vicky and Maggie wonder what the season will bring for their brood But a little more rain and nature bounces back and the landscape begins to revive as more rain falls the grass turns lush erasing all earlier traces of drought Verbena that had survived the dry spell now thrives. The burnt earth springs into life as ribbons of velvet green and purple to Hewey and Mum Polly and the hare's delight Blossoms all around

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