Stretching from western Texas and eastern New Mexico up through Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Wyoming, Montana, the Dakotas, and into Canada, the vast western plains often appear sparse and dry to the casual observer. But a closer look, especially after spring rains, discerns flowers of all colors, sizes, shapes, and fragrances. These forgotten flowers, never before the main focus of a field guide, come into bloom in Wildflowers of the Western Plains.

 

Organized by plant family, the guide presents 186 species of wildflowers, accompanied by vivid color photographs. Each entry includes both the Latin and the common names and a description of the plant, flower, fruit, and range. As a special feature, the guide includes Native American botanical folklore, legends pertaining to the wildflowers, and medicinal uses of native plants. The author's personal observations and occasional recipes round out this delightful array of information.

Zoe Merriman Kirkpatrick, a Texas naturalist, has been studying and photographing western wildflowers for more than twenty-five years. Her public slide shows have increased people's awareness of the beauty and fragility of the western plains and generated many requests for a field guide to these remarkable flowers.

"Dreamers, as well as those living in or trekking through the western Great Plains, a region from eastern Montana and the western Dakotas south to West Texas, will put this delightful volume to good use."—Diane M. Calabrese, American References Books Annual