Books 5 and 6 of Jennifer Scoullar's popular Wild Australia Stories in an omnibus edition. From the bestselling author of Brumby's Run, Currawong Creek and Turtle Reef comes an inspiring story of family, friendship and the healing power of love.
Sometimes a tree change might be just what you need
When Sydney botanist Kim Sullivan and her husband inherit Journey's End, a rundown farm high on the Great Eastern Escarpment, they dream of one day restoring it to its natural state. Ten years later, however, Kim is tragically widowed. Selling up is the only practical option, so she and her children head to the mountains to organise the sale. The last thing Kim expects is for Journey's End to cast its wild spell on them all.
The family decides to stay, and Kim forges on with plans to rewild the property, propagating plants and acquiring a menagerie of native animals. But wayward wildlife, hostile farmers and her own lingering grief make the task seem hopeless. That is until she meets the mysterious Taj, a man who has a way with animals. Kim begins to feel that she might find love again. But Taj has his own tragic past - one that could drive a wedge between them that cannot be overcome ...
You'll never see a wasp in the same way again ...
When Beth's marriage ends, she's determined to build a new life in the country for herself and her children. A quiet life lived closer to nature. She thinks she's achieved the impossible - a civilised separation, a happy home and a cordial relationship with her estranged husband, Mark. There's even the promise of a new love. But when Mark tries to change the rules, Beth's peaceful world is turned upside down.
Disturbingly, she also discovers that European wasps have invaded her garden. Beth's obsession with them and their queen holds up a distorted mirror to the human drama. As the chaos in Beth's life gathers momentum, connections between the two worlds come sharply into focus. The lives of Beth and the others are neither separate to, nor safe from, the natural world.
In this series of Wild Australia Stories I tell tales of the people, wildlife and land that I love. But there is more to wild Australia than brumbies, dingoes, dolphins and the magnificent outback. As a passionate conservationist and naturalist, I'm interested in all aspects of nature. One thing I've learned is that it's not always about the big things. Little creatures have a surprising impact on our lives. If you're squeamish about insects, look away now. If you're fascinated by the Australian bush and the way all creatures great and small are connected, then Beth's story is for you.
