This book provides an engaging introduction to the roughly 4,000 different bee species found in the United States and Canada, dispelling common myths about bees while offering essential tips for telling them apart in the field.

The book features more than 900 stunning color photos of the bees living all around us―in our gardens and parks, along nature trails, and in the wild spaces between. It describes their natural history, including where they live, how they gather food, their role as pollinators, and even how to attract them to your own backyard. Ideal for amateur naturalists and experts alike, it gives detailed accounts of every bee family and genus in North America, describing key identification features, distributions, diets, nesting habits, and more.

This fascinating, go-to text about the plants that make our drinks is the ideal gift book for every cocktail aficionado, the perfect drinks book for every plant-lover.

In The Drunken Botanist, Amy Stewart explores the dizzying array of herbs, flowers, trees, fruits, and fungi that humans have, through ingenuity, inspiration, and sheer desperation, contrived to transform into alcohol over the centuries.

Of all the extraordinary and obscure plants that have been fermented and distilled, a few are dangerous, some are downright bizarre, and one is as ancient as dinosaurs—but each represents a unique cultural contribution to our global drinking traditions and our history.

This charming concoction of biology, chemistry, history, etymology, and mixology—with delightful drawings, tasty cocktail recipes, and fun factoids throughout—will make you the most popular guest at any cocktail party.

Ferns and lycophytes have neither seeds nor flowers. With a surprising 127 native species, why Texas has more than almost any state in the continental US.

This book is a call to arms for gardeners who are searching for a better way to plant, maintain, and enjoy their gardens. The authors argue that traditional landscaping practices are harmful to the environment and unsustainable in the long run. They advocate for a new approach to gardening that works with nature, not against it.

The book provides practical advice on how to create a low-maintenance, sustainable garden that is both beautiful and beneficial to the environment. It includes in-depth profiles of native plants that are well-suited to different regions of the United States, as well as tips on how to design a garden that is both aesthetically pleasing and ecologically sound.

This book provides practical information about designing a home garden that is both beautiful and biodiverse. It offers strategies for making and maintaining a diverse, layered landscape that provides outdoor rooms and turf areas for children and pets, incorporates fragrance and edible plants, and provides cover, shelter, and sustenance for wildlife.

The book is richly illustrated and informed by both a keen eye for design and an understanding of how healthy ecologies work. It includes in-depth profiles of more than fifty butterflies, descriptions of the food plants for a variety of both caterpillars and butterflies, and plant lists for easy selection and substitution, depending on where you live and what is available. For those who want specific advice on what to plant where, the authors have designed useful, adaptable landscape plans and extensive planting options for each of seven state regions.

Written for today’s water-conscious gardener, this book provides cutting-edge information on how to grow more than 270 colorful, unthirsty flowering perennials, shrubs, and ornamental grasses adapted to dry-climate regions. The book was especially prepared for gardeners in Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. It provides proper planting dates and recommended plants and growing techniques for each area, and shows how to prepare soils, make compost, and get the most out of water.

From two veteran ecologists comes a new and sweeping exploration of the natural history of Texas in all its biological diversity and geological variation. Few states, if any, can match Texas for its myriad species, past and present, and its many distinctive landscapes, from prairie grasslands and hardwood forests to coastal lagoons and desert mountains.

The book is about the importance of oak trees in North American forests and how they support the majority of insect, animal, and bird life, keep the water clean and the soil moist, and foster a diversity of life more so than any other species of tree. The book reveals what is going on in oak trees month by month, highlighting the seasonal cycles of life, death, and renewal. It also provides practical advice about how to plant and care for an oak, along with information about the best oak species for your area. The book will inspire you to treasure these trees and to act to nurture and protect them.

Written by those whose primary work is actually the making of prairies, this book provides a detailed account of what has been learned about the art and science of prairie restoration. Includes guidance on all aspects of the restoration process, from concept to execution to monitoring, as well as hard-to-find data on plants and animals of the prairies, seed collection, propagation, and resources for seeds and equipment.

Drought, floods, hail, winds, and extreme heat and cold are just a few of the challenges that unpredictable weather can present as you’re trying to grow healthy plants. Charles W. G. Smith helps you tackle unforeseen weather changes using his ingenious defensive approach to gardening. With profiles of 100 hardy plants and expert information on dealing with problems as they arise, Smith shows you exactly how to plan and maintain a gorgeous, durable garden that will stand up to whatever nature throws at it.

Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer is known as the “father of Texas botany”. This is the first English translation of a collection of his essays originally published in the Neu-Braunfelser Zeitung, providing valuable insight into the cultural and natural history of Texas.

A comprehensive and compact field guide, Trees of Central Texas introduces 186 species of tree life in Central Texas, an area roughly the region of the Edwards Plateau and bordered by the Balcones Escarpment on the south and east, the Pecos River on the west, and the Texas Plains and the Llano Uplift on the north. From the hardy oaks and rugged mesquites to the graceful willows, cottonwoods, and pecans, the tree life of Central Texas varies as much as the vast and changing land that hosts it. Full descriptions and superb illustrations of all the native and naturalized trees of the region as well as fascinating bits of history and lore make this an essential guide to the wealth of tree life in Central Texas.

This book is a field guide that describes over 125 species of mostly native, mostly woody plants of the Texas Hill Country. The book includes a thoughtful introduction that discusses deer, cedar, water, oak wilt, and invasive species, which are timely issues of increasing importance for a growing number of Texas landowners. The plant descriptions contain information about the leaves, flowers, fruit, and bark of each plant and also give insights into the species’ range and habits. A color photograph accompanies each account. The book also includes a comprehensive plant chart with tips about color, scent, flowering period, height, site preference, and wildlife and livestock utilization. A recommended reading list, a resource guide, and a glossary round out this information-packed book.

This book is a pocket guide that introduces readers to 62 native plants found in Texas, emphasizing their edible uses. Each entry includes information on range and habitat, medicinal uses (if applicable), cautions, and special notes. The book provides both common and scientific names, along with over 100 color photos for identification. Whether you’re a forager, gardener, or nature enthusiast, this guide equips you with knowledge about the Lone Star State’s edible flora.

This is a captivating book that explores the diverse world of native orchids found in the Lone Star State. Let’s delve into the fascinating details:

1. Rich Diversity: Texas boasts at least fifty-nine species and varieties of orchids. These terrestrial wonders grace our landscapes, growing with roots in the ground rather than as epiphytes on trees or plants.
2. Beautifully Illustrated: The book features stunning color photographs by Joe Liggio, showcasing all fifty-four wild orchids found in Texas. Each species description includes information about its flowers, blooming season, pollinators, typical habitats, and distribution within and beyond the state.
3. Habitats and Range: From the East Texas swamps and forests to the Edwards Plateau canyons and the Trans-Pecos mountains, these orchids thrive in diverse ecosystems. Their exquisite beauty captivates everyone, from wildflower enthusiasts to botanists and conservationists.

Whether you’re a nature lover, a curious observer, or an aspiring botanist, Wild Orchids of Texas invites you to explore the delicate and enchanting world of these floral gems.

Wildflowers Across America is a serious treatise on the status of plants native to North America. It’s also a beautifully illustrated coffee-table book with hundreds of gorgeous photographs that will convince you that no fancy cultivar could match the glowing beauty of a field of lupinus texensis, more commonly known as Texas bluebonnets.

Lady Bird Johnson, former first lady and the most visible proponent of indigenous botany, and well-known horticulturist Carlton B. Lees take turns describing their adventures with wildflowers, the history of plant exploration, regional plants, and the landscape beautification movement that Mrs. Johnson popularized and still vigorously supports. The lovely regional portfolio in the middle of the book is particularly interesting.

This book focuses on the diverse native wildflowers found along the Texas coastline, specifically on the beaches and islands from the Rio Grande to the Louisiana border.

Over seven hundred species of flowering plants thrive in this coastal region. Despite the impression that Texas beaches consist mainly of barren sand, beyond the dunes lies an abundance of native flora. The book aids readers in identifying approximately 275 common and noteworthy flowering plants specific to Texas beaches and islands. Each plant is accompanied by a color photograph, a description of its appearance, habitat, and blooming time.

The plants are thoughtfully organized by families, making it easy for beachcombers, naturalists, and enthusiasts to reference and learn about the local flora. Whether you’re a curious visitor or a seasoned botanist, this guide provides a general understanding of beach plant life and wildflowers in this unique coastal ecosystem.

This book is a valuable guide and provides insights into the diverse native wildflowers found in the region. This guide celebrates the beauty and ecological significance of these native wildflowers, encouraging readers to appreciate the natural wonders of Houston and Southeast Texas.