He was a quick-tempered fellow who was generally avoided by his co-workers.

The sound of it was scarce louder than the hiss of the rain, a multitude of soft bubblings and squelchings.

Innovative New York City floral artists such as Emily Thompson have long valued Australian plants, including spiky banksia, spidery Grevillea and Swainsona formosa — also known as Strut’s desert pea, which resembles a multieyed visitor from another galaxy — but local designers were raised to regard native species as mundane and overly rustic.

The work on Boodie Island was the first attempt in Australia to eradicate black rats in the presence of a threatened, non-target mammal. […] It is likely that as many as 200-300 boodies now inhabit the island.