I woke up at Mount Wilson this morning. A lovely quiet night camped in the forest. Somehow the gorgeous gardens were spared from the recent fires and the place has the same feel it aways has. The fires burnt very close. As usual there is no rhyme or reason behind where it stopped and started besides the wind on the day. It’s obvious how well our emergency services saved so many houses.

These tree ferns still stand tall and proud untouched. Actually, the tree ferns in the Blue Mountains appear to be the first to spring new branches and leaves after the fire. They are well adapted to fire it seems. Even in burnt out areas the tree ferns glow with fresh green leaves, while the rest of the forest has that fuzzy look with new sprouts of leaves coming directly from the main trunks.

I have been reading that some researchers have been finding some rare and endangered species in the areas that have been burnt out. Fantastic news after all that devastation.

I was hoping for a wet day so I could photograph, but it’s a gorgeous sunny day. I am on my way to Katoomba where I had tickets to the Blue Mountains Music Festival. It was canceled overnight with the pandemic that spreads the world.

The impact of what’s happening will force changes that will see an new era. So my astrologer says. Well, that’s what I am telling myself too, to avoid the inevitable fear that builds globally. We all just have to do the best we can. It’s hard to know what our lives will look like in a weeks time let alone a year.

It’s a good time to turn to beauty, Mother Nature and art for some much needed peace and distractions. Sit with some trees, flowers or some water. Create some art. Admire something beautiful. Give yourself some time in mindfulness. If nothing else I hope todays photograph brings you a smile and a moments peace.

Autumn mist and king ferns. Mount Wilson. The Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area. Photograph and text copyright © Len Metcalf 2020