Happy Wattle Day

Happy Wattle Day Everyone....1st September is Australia's Wattle Day.

(Photo's taken today whilst on our morning walk)

So that's winter done for us here in Australia (my apologies if your about to head into Autumn - I don't mean to gloat)...and although I heard a report yesterday, which stated that it has been the warmest winter for years, I'm still glad that its done and I'm ready to embrace Spring. That's such a lovely warming thought. One of the things I missed most in the Middle East was there wasn't any real changes in the seasons. I don't mind what weather we're having, just so long as it changes regularly.

Maybe that's why I love Melbourne....no two days are alike! Or five minutes for that matter.

Acacia pycnantha, or Golden Wattle, is a shrub or small tree about 4 to 8 metres tall. In spring large fluffy golden-yellow flower-heads with up to eighty minute sweetly scented flowers provide a vivid contrast with the foliage. The perfume at times is incredible waffting on the breeze. Its flowers have been used in perfume making which isn't surprising because at times, especially in the evenings to walk or sit outdoors the scent can be so powerful.

Its Australia's official national floral emblem, featured on the coat-of-arms. Possibly the best known amongst the Australian plants. With 600 or more kinds of wattles, they can be found in every part of the country, from well-watered areas to the arid Centre to the cold mountain regions. They can be found growing in the most remote areas, from low, spreading shrubs to large, upright growing trees. 

Its very resilient and regenerates freely after fires, which usually kill the parent plants but stimulate the germination of seeds stored in the soil if rain follows soon after. Regeneration may produce dense thickets in forests and woodlands and along roadsides.

The brilliant yellow, fragrant flowers of Golden Wattle make it a popular garden plant. It is moderately frost tolerant and grows well in a wide range of soils provided drainage is effective, but tends to be short-lived in cultivation. It is easily propagated from seed soaked in hot water to break the hard seed coat, and the seedlings can be transplanted to pots of soil mix for growing on before planting out in a lightly shaded or open position.

The individual flowers are always very small and massed together in pom-pom heads or rod-like spikes.

So whatever season your are about to enter....Enjoy!