Wattle We Do About It?

 

May Gibbs' Wattle Babies

Spring has arrived (blessed relief - lockdown seems far more bearable in warmer weather) and with it glowing fluffy golden balls floating in the breeze. Like magnolias, crabapples and most other gorgeous blossoms, we wait all year for something that doesn't last long. However when wattle blossoms appear, even the most unpatriotic person surely feels a burst of how glorious it is to be living in Australia!? May Gibbs has a lot to do with this. She was a much loved children's book author, artist and illustrator from around the time of WW1 and her drawings and watercolours, inspired by the flora and fauna of the Australian bush have remained popular ever since.

Her famous book Snugglepot and Cuddlpie is probably still in the Australian classics section of most libraries, but isn't perhaps as well known as it once was.

Snugglepot and Cuddlepie

Her artwork still appears on everything from fine china to clothes and fabric. Oh look, a new range from Big W (in adult sizes!!)

Big W Women's Top

Big W Baby PJs

Queen Elizabeth wore a wattle-inspired dress on her first trip to Australia in 1954. The official portrait of her wearing the dress was hung in community halls throughout the nation for many years. I'm still lamenting the vintage framed print in a gilt frame I missed in an online auction last year. Sob! If I ever come across another, I'll be snapping it up faster than you can say "banksia man!". 

Queen Elizabeth Portrait

Wattle still inspires beautiful fashion. Not, in my humble opinion, anything on the more regal example (above). I have memories of comedienne Pamela Stephenson wearing a hilarious wattle dress maybe to the Logies years ago (think Bjerk in the swan dress, but with wattle). But I couldn't find it online. 

  

Zimmerman

   

When you hold a wattle blossom in your hand it's so soft and delicate - and leaves a sprinkling of gold dust on your hand that feels a little bit magical. Welcome Spring.