One thing that is really interesting about all the burned areas is that they provide an instant lesson in plant succession. The thing that arrives first on the site is the one that never left. That is, the sprouters. Many "hardwood" and riparian species—such as aspen, birch, and maple—sprout from living roots. So, when the top is killed, the roots immediately send up runners.
Not so the conifers. Conifers germinate from seed, so when the trees are killed and the immediate seed source is gone, it can take several decades for them to return. At any rate, it is time to celebrate the sprouters.
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