Waratah

I'd had no intention of blipping a flower, but went for a walk today and couldn't help but notice these magnificent waratahs scattered through the bush.
There seem to be more than last year, and I wonder if it has something to do with the bushfires two years ago.

I suspect the Australian bush may be very unattractive to those unfamiliar with it, and is possibly an acquired taste.  At first glance it appears scraggly, grey, drab, but a closer look will reward with many beautiful wild flowers.

It is only in recent years that it has been possible to buy waratah cultivars and they are sturdy and prolific bloomers, but I far prefer the species ones.
They are not so uniform, are a better colour and are generally gayer.
Their sparseness in the bush makes them all the more special.