First signs of Australian spring

[echt]

It's been unseasonably warm and sunny here in Melbourne and I've spotted the first harbingers of spring, which doesn't officially start until 1st September:

Blowflies
Ants invading my kitchen worktops

What's it like where you are?

Here in Perth, the Noongar people recognise that this climate has six seasons. We’re currently in Djilba (August & September) which is characterised by flowering plants and the start of animal births/bird hatchings, and some sunny and warmer days interspersed with rainy and windy weather. We’ve definitely got the rainy and windy bit today.

Yes, I am sure you are right, but I was brought up with the 21st for season changes.

Obviously, I would like it both ways, Spring starts on 1st September but winter does not start until 21st June.😀

People here will be saying it's spring at the end of next week. I am used to Europeans saying a season starts on the 21st, but your average Kiwi never has. I'm pretty sure the weather man on TV will inform us it is meteorological spring on Sunday also - he usually does.

@ForGreyKoala yes, depends where you were raised I suppose.

So envious of you, as we seem to have been plunged into autumn already in the UK. Happy Springtime to NZ and Aussies!

Thank you! I have been hanging out for warm weather. I actually love autumn, but autumn here is just glorious, warm and sunny, with little rain (usually).

As a Brit, I'm finding it really beautiful to read all these little signs of spring on the other side of the world, all the unfamiliar plants and birds giving the same little mood boosts that I get from Brit spring plants. And the poster who mentioned the 'softer' air: although that is a familiar spring experience here, too, I'm trying to imagine what 'softer' feels like, and the different fragrances it brings, in such different places.

Apologies for the intrusion. As compensation, have a whiff of the sharp almost fruity tang of autumn here in the north of England. The first few leaves of the mostly beech trees round here have been coming down in the recent windy weather and the mornings have a chill, despite the glowing sunshine.

Aha, I see some of you have been fooled by Melbourne's fake spring. Mother nature has more foul weather in store for us, I promise.

I'm so envious. I'm in Ireland where we have had a pretty rubbish summer, lots of wind and rain in August especially.

Would love to see some photos of your spring flowers, gardens, blue skies if anyone is willing to share?

I'm being a bit of a fraud here as in SA and not Aus, but same seasons so only slightly fraudulent 😊

We have had quite unpredictable weather and it's been warmer than normal recently (but huge cold front incoming next week) so we have blooms earlier than normal.

When I opened up this morning I just stood outside and took in the smell. My neighbour has a jasmine on our shared wall and it is giving off the most beautiful scent. It's always the first to greet us. It's my sign every year that we are almost there 😀

Also in the next few weeks the Jacaranda trees will start to bloom. There are a few areas with many of these trees and when they all bloom we drive through a glade of purple. It's such a beautiful sight. Again, it's a sign that we made it through another winter.

I can't be sharing any pics just yet. It's dry. So very dry. We don't get any rain during winter. It stops raining around May and will start again around October. My grass is crispy and everthing stops growing. But I see some hopeful green starting to make it's way through, so everthing will burst back to life soon.

I'm not a winter fan. Our houses are not really geared up for it. So it feels very long.

I also class 1 Sept as Spring Day, although someone will come along and says it's only on the 21st and burst my bubble 😂

This is not my picture, but an example of a purple Jacaranda filled road.

@isisthismylifenow Oh wow, that is absolutely stunningly beautiful😍

I love Jacarandas. So gorgeous
and a real sign that summer is coming!

@Wishimaywishimight Please see attached. Bluff Knoll is in the clouds for a bit while across the road has no cloud but does have a little wattle.

Wherever we drove this weekend, canola is in full bloom. When it’s close to the road and in sunshine, the yellow is so bright it hurts your eyes.

Ah thank you @TTheSandgroper the 2nd photo, in particular, looks like a postcard it's so beautiful. If I lived there I could stare at that view for hours 😍

@Wishimaywishimight https://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=0d4a60feda95d33d&rlz=1C9BKJA_enAU811AU811&hl=en-GB&q=porongurups&udm=2&fbs=AEQNm0DJ7g6q1SUpTw4cD2HgLJVN-DyQln-PEBM_ZXBfF_rmPWjJ_V9ADsx_hReH0g80SYU9zbxsZKz2EIK534gpObvDs6UZGgmErQ7BMrx2kheOdBtLgp70IL5lQPbKtuwYwSXBY55xtWn9wfAzJz54xXzqumEF4vH09v4ZX250hB6pzXouwjJOf8mxNPvTElfcpFc6ma97jenGKgr1c9wz_Rob7mFY3Q&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjyqtuZiZCIAxXizTgGHf4INVgQtKgLegQIEhAB&biw=1024&bih=653&dpr=2#ip=1

Or look up the Porongurups on Insta.

I went for a lovely long walk on the beach on the weekend. It was stunning. 25 degrees, blue sky, warm sun on my shoulders and my feet in the water. Such a lovely time of year.

This is an old photo but this is where I was on the weekend and it was exactly as blue and beautiful as this-

This made me laugh
The other Melbourne climate/weather thing I've heard is that there are five seasons: Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter and Fuck you. Which is about right.

And you get all of them in one day!

We had a lovely couple of days on Friday and Saturday, bright blue skies and warm sunshine. Then yesterday happened and it rained all day!

It’s humid overnight again so spring is definitely on its way.

Yes Melbourne weather is in a league of its own. I am Irish and thought no bad weather could faze me. Until I went to Melbourne! I was walking up a hill dressed in a t-shirt when all of a sudden the wind and rain started. We tried to run for shelter and a bloody leaf the size of a tabloid newspaper twatted me in the face, temporarily blinding me, and almost making me fall over. My husband had found a doorway to shelter in and was pissing himself laughing, watching me fight with this giant bloody leaf! Five minutes later the sun was out again. Melbourne weather is insane!

Not my photo, but this is an example of a flame tree. They’re outside most houses on my street and all in bloom right now. They look lovely (but make a huge mess).

Darn @echt the beautiful warm weather has all but disappeared in the South Island of NZ. Rainy, freezing and miserable this morning! Such false promises after a stunning few spring days!!!

Every Kiwi thinks 4 seasons in one day was written about where they're from. Everyone who has ever lived in Melbourne knows that it wasn't (Kiwi who lives in Melbourne, BTW).

I know it's spring because my neighbourhood smells of freesias and jasmine. I love that about this time of year, though it feels early!