joybells2's Blog

Bushfires (day 10) & Hailstorms
Oct 10, 2007 | 6:35 PM PST
Tag: Wollemi Pine

Cannot believe it!!! The fires are still alive after three days of rainstorm activity, must have missed the main fires. Choppers are still dropping H2O on it. Just like there is no such thing as a dead shark, there's no such thing as a dead fire, not in the Australian bush, anyway. Further inland our major regional centre was devastated by a severe hail, wind & rainstorm. All spring plant growth was completely destroyed, not to mention property damage. The streets were thickly covered with leaves stripped from trees, as well as large hailstones. Must be heart-breaking to have such destruction & be helpless to do anyrthing about it. Must have been terrifying. Can't say how thankful I am. We only had  a 5 minute torrential downpour & that was it.

Still smell smoke in the calm air of the a.m & our Wollemi Pine continues to sprout new growth.Perhaps the smoke has stimulated some growing mechanism or somesuch. You never know!!  

Our bushfire crisis nearly over
Oct 7, 2007 | 9:31 PM PST
Tag: Wollemi Pine

Day eight of our bushfires & they seem to be almost over. It rained for a short while this a.m. after a great deal of bluff & bluster of yesterday  afternoon's electrical storms which amounted to nothing. Typical, a lot of threats & bullying but no action. Today's rain certainly did some good, cleared the smoke from the air & no planes flying overhead, apart from a NPWS chopper. All in all, over 11000 acres of the National Park was burnt, more than a quarter of its total area. There was a total of 7 aircraft & 100 RFS volunteers, all working relentlessly. We owe them all a huge debt. Still, I know this is insignificant compared to the terribly destructive fires in Greece but it all matters, doesn't it & there was the potential for disaster.

Our Wollemi Pine may have benefitted from the smoke-laden air. Do not know whether it was because it is now used to its new pot & environment or it was the smoke (probably a bit of both) but it is now shooting out new growth, both at the top & at the tip of  a branch. Yippee, means it is happy. Fingers & toes crossed. It is our pride & joy & want it to thrive.

PS According to the TV news tonight, the fires are still alive & kicking. 85 firefighters are still in action!! Just goes to show, these fires have a mind of their own.