by Denise Fernie
The Noongar season Birak, the first summer, season of the young, is upon us. The season is dry and hot with easterlies in the morning and cooling sea breezes from the southwest in the afternoon. Reptiles are shedding their old skins and tadpoles are completing their transformation into adult frogs.
The moodjar, the WA native Christmas tree, is in bloom now, with beautiful gold/orange flowers. Fledglings are venturing out of nests, although some such as magpie and parrot young still remain close to parents.
Traditionally, Birak was the season for controlled burning on Noongar country. Both men and women would partake in the practise of bushfire management. They would burn the country in a mosaic pattern for the purposes of fuel reduction, to encourage lush growth of grasses for animals, and to improve seed germination, as well as making it easier to move across country and flush out smaller animals and reptiles. This practise has not happened for well over 100 years now, and with our changing and drying climate, it is hard to imagine.
Source: Nooyngar Calendar
Summer is well and truly here, which means that our seasonal favourites at the moment include tomatoes, basil, zucchini, capsicum, cucumber, sweet corn, avocados and chillies.
Fruits include apricots, peaches and nectarines, melons and grapes.
A delicious summer favourite: