Weed Spraying

The weather is surprisingly mild at the moment. Lovely warm balmy days, it is almost spring-like.
There was no wind early this morning when the dogs and I took out Taylor River tracks walk. So it was an ideal time for the Council contractors to be out spraying for weeds alongside the tracks bordering the river. They have put up warning signs and are using "Tordon" in order to kill the numerous broom plants.
Today the contractors were over the other side of the river from where we were walking. Over the last two or three years hundreds of silver tussock (Poa cita) have been planted along one particular stretch of river bank. The tussocks are the clumps of grasses in the lower half of the image. They look more gold than silver in today's light. They have been thriving and are starting to make an attractive display so it is important to prevent these lovely indigenous plants from being crowded out by invading weed species. .
Broom is a particular problem in some parts of New Zealand. Indeed it is smothering some mountain-sides in areas such as the Molesworth Station, a famous high country station.
By the way, if you want to take a good look at an iconic activity that is carried out in the High Country then look for "Molesworth Cattle Muster" on YouTube. It is an amazing video depicting a very high country muster on the famous Molesworth Station. The photographer is Rob Suisted, a very well-known New Zealand photographer. The musterers are on horseback and as Rob had never been on a horse in his life beforehand he had three weeks to learn the necessary skills for riding a 17 hand plus station hack... (Not to mention filming at the same time!) He is co-authoring a book about the Molesworth Station which is due to be released this September. So if you want some real Kiwiana amongst the high country tussocks do look for that video.