For Aboriginal peoples, plants also serve as indicators of change in the broader environment. Many Aboriginal groups, for example, use the blooming of certain flowers to signal the change of season. Often, different cultural ceremonies are linked to these seasonal shifts. The Gadigal, whose historic land lies along the coast, used blooming as an indicator for ideal fishing times. The coastal wattle’s (Acacia sophorae) bright yellow blooms, for example, are a sign of ideal conditions for fishing sea mullet. How might the plants near you indicate changes in your environment?
