Seasonal signs in Melbourne
In ancient days folks didn’t have wall calendars or desk diaries to check what the date was. Instead, the passage of time was broken up into lunar months (the time between one new moon and the next) and these months were then pegged against seasonal markers to keep track of a year (a rotation through each of the seasons).
So it was fairly important to recognise and be aware of the signs that indicated the changes of seasons, as it could mean the difference between a crop succeeding or failing, and animals thriving or dying.
But do we still possess these powers of observation?
Even with modern timekeeping methods at our disposal, it’s easy to lose track of time and suddenly realise half the year has gone.
We’re lucky that Melbourne has fairly distinctive differences between the seasons and at this time every year I receive a little jolt as I recognise that spring is officially just around the corner.
Just a few weeks ago, the trees were all bare. But now, each day brings more and more blossom.
Likewise, the arrival of autumn in Melbourne is easily recognised by the turning of leaf colour. As many streets are lined with deciduous trees, the early signs of autumn are just the slightest tinges of yellows and oranges on the trees, and a chill in the morning.
Early signs of summer and winter are more subtle.
For me, the first sign of summer is the pile of invitations to end-of-year parties, followed swiftly by the first wet swimming towels left on the floor, and the smell of a BBQ wafting over the fence from one of the neighbours.
Winter is announced by the ski roof-racks attached to many of the cars on the road, and snow reports at the end of the nightly TV news.
What are the seasonal signs where you live?
