Chronicles from the Australian Savannas and Rainforests

Diane Lucas

Colwyn Campbell

Take a journey to see and feel `the passage of seasons` across a tropical year through the senses and observations of two passionate women naturalists living under different habitat conditions in tropical Australia -  from the savannas of the Northern Territory's Top End and the cloudy rainforests of Queensland's Wet tropics

Through this exchange they have compiled extracts from their letters, their diaries, garden notes, sketches, observations, songs, verses and stories of life and raising children in the bush. Colwyn has added to this dialogue, images from their writings, with her carefully worked sketches and paintings to share with you.

If was a moth I would like to rub my proboscis into that flower’s nectar’ (Diane)

‘What captures me are the intricacies of Nature’ (Diane)

Being engaged by Nature, brings strength to the soul’ (Diane)

‘The bush sings to those who listen’ (Diane)

‘The golden heads of Kahili Ginger glow like beacons, attracting birds, bees and butterflies. In the evenings the air is filled with their intoxicating sweetflagrance.’ (Colwyn)

‘The air is soft and sensual and from the rainforest a mix of scents waft: the scent of rain, wet grass, damp earth, damp leaves, subtle aromas from fungi, faint hints of decay and delicate fragrance from flowers unseen high in the canopy.’ (Colwyn)

A guide to growing fruit, herbs and vegetables in tropical and sub-tropical climates.

Leonie Norrington

with illustrations by Colwyn Campbell

This is a story of a rich indigenous food source and of traditional life that traces a young boy’s instruction in food-gathering. With his mother he learns from their Indigenous family, how to collect the edible seeds of lilies and learns how to prepare this bush food.