Let us rejoice – the winter weather is slowly fading and spring is on its way.
Bring on trips to the farmer’s market with friends, post-dinner strolls before the sun goes down, and the smell of fresh flowers tickling your nostrils while the ‘friendly’ neighbourhood magpie watches you with its beady little eyes. Well, maybe that last one doesn’t sound so nice…
We couldn’t be more excited for the warmer weather, but alongside the mild temperatures and tasty spring produce comes higher pollen counts and nesting (and very territorial) birds, not to mention the confusion Daylight Saving causes every year between the states.
If you’re spending the springtime in Australia, here’s what you need to know. The good, the bad and the beady (seriously, be careful of the magpies!)
Seasonal allergies
Hay fever is no joke for many living in Australia, with as many as 1 in 5 adults suffering from the irritating condition. Between shortness of breath, a constant runny nose, itchy eyes and the constant need to say ‘I swear I’m not sick, it’s just hay fever’ in every social setting, it can be a real nuisance when it comes to making the most of spring.
Thankfully, there are a few options that genuinely work to ease symptoms, including over-the-counter nasal sprays (Dymista is a very popular, highly effective option), eye drops, antihistamines and soft-touch tissues, for when your poor nose just can’t take another wipe. If you can’t get on top of your symptoms, definitely talk to your GP about other treatments. You deserve to be able to breathe easy this season.
Fresh produce
Farmer’s markets, local fruit shops, even roadside farmgate stalls – now is the time to get familiar with what options you have nearby. It’s always a great idea to buy local produce if your budget and schedule allow it, and spring offers so many delicious options for fresh fruit and veg. Citrus season is still going strong, as are brassicas (like your cauliflowers, broccolis and brussels sprouts), but we’ll also start seeing sugar snap peas, asparagus and artichokes. Delicious!
Daylight Saving
Every year ,there’s constant discourse around when it starts, which states it affects and whether the clocks go forward or backward. In a nutshell, the Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia don’t observe daylight saving. Come early October, everywhere else will put the clocks forward one hour. You do lose an hour on that first day, but from then on, just treat it as the new normal (until March anyway) and enjoy that little bit of extra sunshine in the evening!
Fun spring activities
Spring is one of those lovely seasons where it’s not too hot, not too cold, everyone’s coming out of hibernation, and there’s just so many lovely things to do. Whether it’s visiting a local flower farm for a ‘pick your own bunch’ afternoon, taking a barefoot stroll along the beach or visiting a wildlife/farm sanctuary to ‘ooh’ and ‘aww’ over all the baby animals, there’s definitely something for everyone.
The magpie threat
Look, we’re probably making it sound like a bigger deal than it actually is. We promise there’s not always going to be 50 magpies following you around. But knowing how to avoid being swooped is a good idea.
The best approach is to avoid known nesting sites, give them a wide berth (50-100m) if you do come across them, protect your head where possible and don’t be aggressive towards them. Although it’s a pain, they’re only doing what they can to protect their eggs/baby birds, and the season usually only lasts six or so weeks.
Apparently magpies also have the ability to recognise human faces, so if you’re kind to them this year, hopefully they’ll remember you next time and leave you alone (unfortunately, the reverse is probably also true…).
