The photograph shows my personal most hated weed – Mile a Minute – taking advantage of cleared growing space after the spring bushfires.
Bushfires are nature’s way of clearing out the undergrowth. Lurking weeds are suddenly no more and the bush is given a new lease of life as regrowth takes over.
But the weeds are not far behind and they like nothing better than more light and space to operate. No doubt they also benefit from the nutrients the ash adds to the soil.
The only good thing is that they are often easier to see and eliminate among the black trunks. So if there are burnt areas near you, look out for the weeds you recognise and pull them out while they are easy to spot.