Most Chinese-American variations of Mah Jong are played with eight extra tiles of special design, known as the seasons. They are also called flowers or gardens and the names are interchangeable. (see figures 1 and 2).
Figure 1: The seasons (l-r: spring, summer, autumn and winter)
Figure 2: The flowers (l-r: plum, orchid, chrysanthemum and bamboo)
When the season tiles are used they are mixed among the other tiles before the wall is built. Each wall consists of eighteen pairs of tiles instead of seventeen.
If East Wind, in his original draw, obtains either of the number 1 bonus tiles (Spring or Plum), he is said to have drawn his own season or flower; similarly the number 2 bonus tiles are South Wind's own, the number 3 are West Wind's and the number 4 are North Wind's own.
After the original draw and prior to East's first discard, East declares any season, or seasons, that he may have in his hand by exposing them on the table. He then draws a loose tile for each Season so declared so that he will have thirteen tiles remaining in his hand.
After East has declared, South, West, and North, in turn declare any seasons in their hands and draw loose tiles in the same manner in order that each may have thirteen tiles remaining in his hand.
All seasons obtained in the original draw are thus declared before East makes his first discard, including any seasons which may be drawn as loose tiles. East then makes his first discard.
If a player in the course of the game draws in his turn a season from the wall, he immediately exposes it and draws a loose tile before discarding.
The seasons score as follows:
| Scoring with seasons |
| Each Season scores |
4 points |
| One of a player's own seasons |
Score x 2 |
| Both of a player's own seasons |
Score x 4 |
All four seasons of one set
(not cumulative with above) |
Score x 8 |
