The bushfire damage is still very evident but so are the signs of new spring growth at Mt Tomah Botanic Garden.
The garden was extensively burnt in the fires last December, damaging the conifer collection, North American woodland, Gondwana forest and the Darug walk.
More than 90 per cent of the surrounding 186 hectares of conservation area around the garden was also heavily impacted.
But the restaurant/shop was not damaged and areas nearby were spared, including the formal garden, Brunet meadow, Lady (Nancy) Fairfax walk and the dahlia collection.
One happy by-product of the blaze is likely to be an increase in the number of waratahs in the gardens.
Waratahs are a resprouting species. Their main method of regeneration in the wild is sprouting from a massive underground structure called a lignotuber, said scientist Dr Cathy Offord.
"This structure is a modified stem and can be a metre or more in length and depth, and possibly weigh up to a quarter of a tonne. It's a marvellous adaptation to fire."
But don't expect flowers immediately.
"It is unlikely that too many flowers will be seen in this first flowering season between August and October for the NSW Waratah (Telopea speciosissima). But in the next few years, we can anticipate a great many to be seen," Dr Offord said.
