Sunlit Gorse

Gorse is one of the most widely recognised agricultural weeds in New Zealand. It covers a total of 5% of the land area of New Zealand when excluding existing indigenous forest, vegetated sub-alpine and alpine areas.

Its spread and development as a weed in this country's temperate climate was rapid, but settlers failed to recognise the threat as gorse seed continued to be imported and plantings deliberately established into the 1900s. The seed can lie dormant on the ground for up to 50 years, germinating quickly after the adults have been removed. Unfortunately, most methods of removing adult gorse plants, such as burning or bulldozing them, create the ideal conditions for the gorse seeds to germinate.

On the upside gorse has been found to form a useful nursery for many species for native bush regeneration. When young, gorse bushes are very dense and as they grow older, they become 'leggy', providing the ideal conditions for native seeds to germinate and grow. The native seedlings grow up through the gorse, cutting out its light and eventually replacing it.

Providing my blip today, gorse flowers capturing the morning light as we near the start of winter.

Great day - it was calm and cold but who minds when the sun shines all day.

Happy weekend everyone :)

One year ago - one of my favourite blips :)