Gorse bush

This lovely yellow flowered shrub, gorse (Ulex europaeus) shouldn't be here. Gorse and broom are exotic shrubs that readily colonise open areas in New Zealand. Both come from Europe originally.

This plant, growing in the Britten Reserve, Mt Pleasant, has managed to flower in spite of efforts from reserve staff to eliminate weedy gorse and broom. Sheep help to keep the weeds down, but on rocky areas some escape and usually receive a dose of herbicide. Part of the problem is that these grassy slopes were originally covered with forest, so are readily colonised by woody species.

I did photograph a nice sunrise again this morning, but thought that you deserved a change.