New Page 6 Flwrs

Written by Frances Burton and Aurelia Stampp, this book was published in 2003 and is on its way to becoming a standard wildflower guide. It is not available through this website or Stonehill Publishing, but can be obtained from either The Ridges Sanctuary or Passtimes Books (see p. 7 for details). At $10.95 it should be on every wildflower lovers book shelf.

FROM THE BACK COVER:

"Finally--the first book describing the wildflowers of the Ridges Sanctuary, one of the most biologically diverse areas in Wisconsin. The 101 wildflowers include those of special interest and beauty, as well as those most likely to be seen in the Sanctuary and throughout Door County.

"The book presents a simple way to identify and enjoy wildflowers. It's meant to be a casual companion--fun yet informative. With a little knowledge, wildflowers can be appreciated for more than just their beauty. Over thousands of years, the flowers in this book have brought pleasure, saved lives, and provided sustenance. They are associated with romance and legends. Like people, they have histories."

The book is illustrated with superb color photographs provided by four highly-regarded nature photographers. Each image was carefully selected from a number of possibilities, and the authors worked closely with the printer to ensure that color reproduction and detail were such that each photograph in the book captures the "look" of the wildflower as found in nature.

All proceeds from this book benefit The Ridges Sanctuary, and support its mission to preserve ecologically significant landscapes for future generations.

From the author's introduction

"The book presents a simple way to identify and enjoy wildflowers. It's not designed as a botanical text. It's meant to be as comprehensive as possible to the average reader, therefore we used a limited number of botanical terms. For instance, instead of differentiating between 'stem' and 'stalk,' we use 'stem' throughout. All the terms we use are illustrated in the drawings on the facing page. The book is meant to be a casual companion--fun, yet informative. There are many fine field guides available that contain precise and detailed botanical information, and we urge anyone interested in wildflowers to consult them as well.

"The flowers are arranged according to their approximate bloom periods, beginning with the earliest spring flowers. A graph at the bottom of each page shows the range of the bloom period, but growing conditions can cause variation."