Snow gums and fires

28 C in Melbourne and not a cloud in the sky - makes you think of the mountains. It is around this time that the mountains start to lose all that white cold stuff and look inviting again. One of of the places that I love is Blue Rag. The air is brisk, the terrain wonderful and on a clear day the mountain tops stretch for what seems an eternity. It is a very spiritual experience - invigorating and refreshing and makes you wonder why we live in the city.
Last time we were at Blue Rag was about four weeks after the fires. The landscape was completely changed - it was eerie and forboding and left me with a feeling of unease. The snowgums, previously so beautiful in life, with their colored trunks and soft canopy above us were now black and charred. There were some shoots coming out of the bottom at ground level but that was all.
What can we expect nearly one year on? Will they only regrow from ground level or will they shoot again from their burnt bows. I hope that soon we can get back to the mountains and I hope that spring will bring good news on my favorite place.
Andrew