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Title: A Field Guide to Wildflowers : Northeastern and North-Central North America (Peterson Field Guides)
ISBN: 0395911729
Author:
Margaret McKenny
Publicate Date: 1998-03-15
Publish: 1998-03-15
List Price: $19.00
Average Customer Rating: 4.0
Format: Paperback
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Amazon Lowest New Price: $8.94
Amazon Lowest Used Price: $4.05
Amazon Merchant Price: $12.92
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| Customer Review: |
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1: great for quick identification
This book is great for quick identification; I take it hiking, it is light enough and small enough for me, it is divided by color, which is great, I don't mind that all the pictures are not in color; I have really enjoyed identifying so many different flowers, so easily, with their terrific descriptions and drawings. This is one of my favorite books; I use it all the time.
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2: Comrehensive but difficult to use...
I found this book to be more comprehensive than the comparable Wildflower Guide from the Audubon Society. This book shows more complete drawings of the plant (not just the flowering portion). However, this book does not contain photographs and instead contains artistic representations (black and white line drawings with occassional colored drawings). Additionally, some plants are not catagorized under what I would say is the correct color section... i.e. Western Ironweed has *PURPLE* flowers, but is found in the *PINK* section. I find this book difficult to use for identifying an unknown species. It is most useful to me in identifying the variety when you have some idea of the species. When comparing this book against the one from the Audubon Society, I prefer this one simply because this book shows more of a complete image of the entire plant. This book has limited usefullness for me, but I'm giving it an average rating because I haven't found anything better yet.
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3: Great help for class wildflower project
This book really helped my son with his wildflower project for science class.
Many of the other books we checked out of the library were too complicated for him (and I) to use and were not detailed enough.
It is organized by flower color which made it easier to get a correct identification. The only down side is that all of the flowers are not pictured in color...some of them are drawn in black and white within a color family.
However, I would recommend this book as it was easy for my 8th grade son to use on his own for the project.
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4: indispensable!
I have used Petersons books for decades, and continue to update to new
issues while cherishing my issue from the 1970's. Anyone seeking to
comprehensively identify wildflowers from color plate photographs alone
is not only missing the point of field work, but may miss the flower as
well- colors look different in different light and in different photo- op's.
There are many other features to consider in correct plant ID.
The relevant ID features are often more obscure, yet are dutifully pointed
out in the Peterson guides - characteristics such as "mottled stems",
"fringed bracts", various leaf attachment features, size and range of
plant, and so on. As the director of a high quality school dealing in
herbal studies and nature research, as well as a college level teacher,
this and a small cadre of supplemental ID resources, including Steve
Brill's book, are going to remain on my list of required books for
all students , one they will use , along with their friends and family,
again and again.
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5: A great help to flower identification
I have used this book for many years and it is the easiest most comprehensive book on the subject. It is never esay to identify a flower you do not know, but with a little practice, this book is a big help.
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