SIX TRADITIONAL SEASONS
The Noongar seasons colour wheel clearly shows the division between the traditional six seasons to the more ridged European model of four seasons. It should be noted, that even in Europe, the traditional nomad peoples use six seasons, as the Wickens still do today, using the summer and winter solstice as markers.

What has to be remembered is there are several ways to spell all the Noongar names, including the name 'Noongar', for example:
OOONoongar | Nyoongar | Nyungah
OOOBirak | Biroc
OOOMakura | Makara | Makaru

Again, these names are relevant to the Aboriginal people of the south west of Western Australia, they will change as you move north to Yamaji country or east towards the Wongi country which we call the Goldfields | Wheatbelt areas.

Dry and hot, Birak is characterised by arid easterly or north-easterly winds in the morning and coastal sea breezes in the afternoon. This is the time when exotics require a lot of care and watering, but Western Australian natives handle the heat well as long as they have been mulched by early December. Moodjar (Christmas Trees) are in bloom, as are cowslip orchids, Astartea fascicularis, Darling Range ghost gums, blue leschenaultia and candle hakea. Birak is an excellent time for birds and bees, as nectar and gum are being produced by many plants. If you’re planning to grow kangaroo paws, this is the time to buy the seeds.

The traditional population gathered in large groups and travelled along the coast line.

The hottest part of the year, with sparse rainfall throughout most of the South West. Easterly winds and harsh, salt-laden sea breezes still prevail, but occasionally heat troughs bring humid conditions, which can cause fungal problems. The Western Australian native plant specialists at Boola Wongin can recommend the appropriate fungal treatment. Western Australian native plants that not only survive but flower at this time include wattles, banksia, bulrushes, ilyarrie and zamia.

The groups started to disperse and move inland. The burning season begins and the burning stick is also transferred. (The women started to make the cloaks from Kangaroo skins that would keep them warm and dry during winter.)

The cooler weather begins, although rain is still infrequent and the winds are somewhat lighter. Many native fruits begin to appear, drawing birds to gardens featuring them, and flowering plant include swamp fox banksia, silky livid blood flower, couch honeypot and stinkwood. Djeran is traditionally a time when bulbs and tubers were collected for food. At Boola Wongin, we recommend planting annuals at this time, and if you’re thinking of planning a fish or frog pond in your garden, this is time to start.

Groups are now smaller between 5 to 10 people they keep transferring campsites moving more inland. The burning season continues.

The cold fronts that have until now brushed the lower south west coast begin to cross further north, and gales and storms occur with increasing frequency. This is usually the wettest part of the year, and the best for planting. Apply a small amount of low pH native slow release fertilizer when planting prickly moses, scarlet banksias, lemon scented darwinia, native wisteria, holly-leaved hovea, bacon and eggs plants, and native fuchia all flower during this time.

Many groups divide into even smaller groups inland. Start of the initiation ceremonies; at the end of this season the groups start to move back to the coastline.

Often the coldest part of the year, with clear, cold nights and days, or warmer, rainy and windy periods. As the nights begin to warm up there are moreclear, sunny days, making it an ideal time for spreading slow release fertiliser and mulching. The first wildflower blossoms appear, including milkmaids, grey cottonhead, coral vine, white myrtle, rose bangine, yellow pea and mountain kunzea.

The groups start to unite eventually re-assembling into larger groups continuing to move back towards the coastline.

A definite warming trend is accompanied by longer dry periods and fewer cold fronts crossing the coast. The height of the wildflower season, Kambarang offers a riot of colour, including verticordia insignis, mangles kangaroo paw, blue leschenaultia, graceful honeymyrtle, roadside tea-trees and elegant beaufortia. This is a busy time in any garden, with light pruning of shrubs to reduce woodiness, the removal of old, dead plant material from the garden beds, and pruning of faded flowers paws and patersonia occidentalis after they finish flowering.

Many groups now combine in larger groups up to 100 or more as the coastal area has abundant food to feed large groups.