Avid outback gardener Elizabeth "Thumper" Clark isn't shy when asked to share the secret behind keeping plants alive in harsh bush climates.
"Basically, gardening is common sense," she says.
"It's also something you've got to be dedicated to."
On Wednesday morning the Longreach artist and resident green thumb launched her first book, Only Grow What Grows, described as a "no-nonsense" and humorous guide to gardening in the bush.
"I wrote it because so many people try to start a garden out here but they don't understand the climate in the west," Mrs Clark said.
The book spans from plant choice and seed collection to gardening during times of drought and other natural disasters.
Mrs Clark said she was inspired to write the book as a way to relieve stress during the drought, and had inundated publisher David Sasse with pages of writing after getting in touch with him through a friend.
Mr Sasse said Mrs Clark's trademark wit and humour made it easy to turn her work into a book.
"Working in publishing can be pretty dry, but it's been great working with Thumper," he said.
"She's kept me laughing and smiling."
