Happy Wattle Day

Although not a national holiday, today is still a day of celebration.

To many Australians, the wattle stands for home, country, kindred, sunshine and love every instinct that the heart most deeply enshrines.

September 1, 1910, the Sydney Morning Herald

Wattles have long had special meanings for Australians and it was in 1988 that the Golden Wattle (Acacia pycnantha) was officially gazetted as Australia’s national floral emblem.

Wattle Day Association Inc.

This was proclaimed by our then Governor-General, Sir Ninian Stephen, who, in 1992, also proclaimed, as a unifying gesture, that the first day of Spring (aka, September 1) be Australia’s National Wattle Day for everyone to celebrate at the same time. 

Prior to that, several of our states had celebrated during different months to coincide with when the wattles were blooming in their particular region. Australia is a vast country and, while the wattles Queensland are now nearing the end of their blooming season (at least those near us are), in many other states they will only now be just starting to emerge.

I don’t envy the grey skies in Melbourne, but I could easily relish that type of view.

We don’t get to enjoy the Golden Wattle here in Queensland. Our climate is too hot for that particular species. But there are many other varieties of Acacia that have been flowering since (late) July.

–⋅ o ♥ o ⋅–

You can see more photos of wattles in my post – Wattle, Wattle, Everywhere. I took these photos in 2015 when Dean and I were in Basin View (NSW) and it’s hard to believe that was five years ago.

You can also read more about Australia’s National Wattle Day on the Wattle Day Association’s website.