again. Other springs have seen our paddocks in a blue
haze of Salvation Jane, Echium plantagenium, see
my header for a flash back.
This year the Leprechauns have been busily strewing
gold pieces across the paddocks at randon. The whole
countryside, as the sun came out this morning, had
turned to a shimmering carpet of gold.

Only once in the last 50 years have I seen a
phenomenon to match this splendour.

The visual effect is stunning when the sun comes
out and all the flowers open.

Unfortunately for the country, this is not lush pasturage
but Cape Weed imported by some well meaning person
from South Africa. It suppresses our native grasses and
sown pasture by quickly outgrowing, overhadowing and
depriving all else of light.
It is also an indicator of depleted soil quality which is
not at all remarkable after 6 years of drought.

The golden glow in the distance is our neighbour's
paddock with our land that is visibly green dotted
by our few remaining sheep.

The neighbour's dam with a little water in it and
gold on our paddock in the foreground too.
Bachi with her week old calf enjoying a feed in the
sunshine
large Joey in her pouch regards me with a baleful
and suspicious eye,



