Every year wildflowers burst into bloom across the state, with a carpet of colour and fragrance erupting from the red earth of the Pilbara in June, then sweeping down the turquoise-fringed waters of the Coral Coast and across the patchwork farming towns of the Golden Outback, before arriving in Perth around September and finishing in the South West in October.
More than 12,000 flower species take part in this eye-catching display, designed to capture the attention of pollinators such as bees and birds. Sixty per cent of the flowers are found nowhere else. Visitors come from far and wide to preserve their brief appearance on camera.
It’s a time of anticipation for Colleen Drage, owner/operator of Kurlajiwangga Nhanda Aboriginal Guides Tours in Kalbarri. The Nhanda Elder has predicted a bumper season this year.
“I’m really looking forward to this one,” said Colleen. “I know it’s going to be a ripper season because we’ve had a good amount of rain. We’ve already seen the kangaroo paws come out and the banksias. When I was a kid, my dad used to have a ute, and I used to hop off whenever we were travelling to grab flowers from the roadside. Now I look forward to taking the little ones, my grandkids, to see the everlastings. They pop up everywhere and they’re just stunning.”
The emergence of pink everlastings, banksias, the rare donkey orchid, and fragrant boronia are all seasonal highlights for Kerry-Ann Winmar, Whadjuk Elder and owner/operator of Nyungar Tours in Kings Park, but her favourite botanical beauty is the ruby-red quandong fruit.
“Kambarang (spring) is my absolute favourite time of year,” said Kerry-Ann. “There is plenty of bush tucker and medicine to be found, but what I look forward to is getting my family together, especially the little ones, to collect quandongs. Quandongs are plentiful in bush areas near the beach, the fruit is delicious; we like to make a jam of it, and the seed inside is medicinal.”
For Annie Dabb, Wudjari Elder and owner/operator of Dabungool Cultural Experiences in Esperance, wildflower season is a visual feast for the senses and one of the most rewarding times to be on-country in a corner of the world renowned for its amazing biodiversity.
“The sheer variety of colour, from the different pinks, blues, and yellows is stunning,” said Annie. “We have the spider orchids coming now, and soon we’ll be seeing plenty more of the donkey orchids. It’s really hard for me to pick a favourite flower; but I do love the Esperance wax.”
To book a guided wildflower tour with Colleen Drage from Kurlajiwangga Nhanda Aboriginal Guides Tours, Kerry-Ann Winmar from Nyungar Tours or Annie Dabb from Dabungool Cultural Experiences, or browse more than 150 indigenous tourism operators and experiences throughout the state, click on the members’ directory at www.waitoc.com.
To download the latest Bushfood and Wildflower Trails brochure, featuring more 30 bushfood and wildflower tours across WA as well as some delicious bushfood-inspired recipes, go to www.waitoc.com/Fast Finds/Brochures and Cultural Tools.
