Joel Kontinen
A tumbleweed known as hairy panic has invaded the town of Wangaratta, Victoria, turning it into a surreal scene that could be from a horror film.
In some places, the grass stalks of Panicum effusum reach up to the roofs of houses.
Residents have laboured for hours, trying to clear their gardens of the stuff, only to see it return with a vengeance.
The weed grows very fast and can turn into a nightmare, as seen in Wangaratta.
Thorns and thistles are consequences of the Fall described in Genesis 3. Adam’s disobedience brought suffering and death into the world.
But even in a fallen world, there is an abundance of beauty.
Even Panicum effusum is quite beautiful. Only after it dies and dries up, it becomes a nuisance. It might be fatal for sheep if they eat too much of the weed, but otherwise the panic is not that serious.
Source:
BBC news. 2016. Australia town consumed by 'hairy panic' (18 February).
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