Aboriginal Designs in Bush Onions and Wild Flowers Black by M and S Textiles Australia BOWFB

Dreamtime:

In winter, after rains, new flowers become abundant. These become very decorative with bright yellow, pink and lavender colours. Wild bush onions have small bulb like onions, long slender green leaves, like thick blades of grass and have distinct onion smell. The bulbs offer a pungent onion flavour; however, the green tops are milder. These can be eaten raw and is considered an important food for Kimberly Aboriginal people. People gather bush onions by digging in the sand. The best time to gather bush onions is in April/May. Bush onions are also favourite food for native birds, known as Brolgas.

Jane is an experienced Aboriginal designer from the well-known Doolan family in Alice Springs, N.T. Jane skilfully drew bush onions (cyperus bulbosus) and wild flowers in separate garden beds in a beautiful way.