Wildflower Season Has Arrived

April 26, 2001 - We need only look outside to see the obvious: there are California Poppys on the hillsides, and Lupine covering the fields. The annual parade of wildflowers has begun.

On Sunday, May 13 the Siskiyou County Wildflower Show will be held in honor of Mother's Day. Sponsored by the Klamath National Forest and the California Native Plant Society, the show will be at the Siskiyou Golden Fair Grounds in Yreka from 10 am to 4 pm.

To learn more about wildflower identification, check out Flora of the Bear Trail by Dr. Kenneth and Leona Beatty.

Related Websites
Flora of the Bear Trail
California Native Plant Society
Klamath National Forest

Wildflowers of California
By Larry Ulrich

Amazon customer review: "I bought 2 of these for gifts and 1 for myself. The drawings and photos in field guides are always too small. The pictures of flowers in this book leave no doubt about what your're looking at. Non-native (alien) species are identified. Even pine cones and insects are identified." - Kerry Lattimore

"This is a book to cherish. Larry Ulrich's large format photography brings us into a world of beauty. From the grand views to the tiny details, everything is perfection. All flowers were taken in their setting and at their best. I have the 1994 edition. Printing is one of the sharpest I have seen and colors are sumptuous." - Paul Schilliger

A Field Guide to Pacific States Wildflowers
By Theodore F. Niehaus

Here are descriptions and illustrations of 1,492 species from 77 families - virtually all of the wildflowers found from British Columbia to Baja California, from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Ocean. Grouped by color, each species description includes field marks, size, habitat, range, flowering season, and common and scientific names.

Common Edible and Useful Plants of the West
By Muriel Sweet

If you want to know how the Indians, pioneers, and early Spanish-Americans used many of the common wild plants for food, building shelters, or making artifacts, this book has the answers. Remedies are included.

Wild Edible Plants of Western North America (Wild Edible Plants of Western North America)
By Donald R. Kirk
Nearly 2000 species of wild edible plants found in the western United States and in southwestern Canada and northwestern Mexico are covered. Excellent identifying illustrations by Janice Kirk.

Northern California Gardening
By Katherine Grace Endicott

Amazon customer review: "This book is an indispensable guide for ALL Northern Californians. Month-by-month the author tells us what all gardeners should be doing, then has specific recommendations for Central Valley, Mountain, and Coastal gardeners. Each month also includes great advice on pest control (she favors gentle methods), planting, pruning, and what is usually available at local nurseries."

"This guide is especially good for people who are new to Northern CA, and are in garden shock. When I moved from Zone 4 to Zone 14 it was the first book I purchased and it was a real life saver (the plants's lives, that is!)" --"drdebs"

California Trees and Wildflowers
By James Kavanagh

California Trees & Wildflowers, An Introduction to Familiar Species, is a must-have, reference guide for beginners and experts alike. Whether you're on a nature hike or taking a stroll in your neighborhood, you'll want to take along a copy of this indispensable guide.

The Pocket Naturalist(tm) series is an introduction to common plants and animals and natural phenomena. Each pocket-sized, folding guide highlights up to 150 species and most feature a map identifying prominent sanctuaries and outstanding natural attractions. Each is laminated for durability.

From the Back Cover:
California Trees & Wildflowers, An Introduction to Familiar Species, is a must-have, reference guide for beginners and experts alike. Whether you're on a nature hike or taking a stroll in your neighborhood, you'll want to take along a copy of this indispensable guide. The Pocket Naturalist(tm) series is an introduction to common plants and animals and natural phenomena. Each pocket-sized, folding guide highlights up to 150 species and most feature a map identifying prominent sanctuaries and outstanding natural attractions. Each is laminated for durability. (31/2 X 81/4 folded, opens to 22 X 81/4, color illustrations, map)

Introduction to California Mountain Wildflowers, Revised Edition
By Philip A. Munz

Review:
"Presents information to help readers easily identify wildflowers, including either a drawing or a photograph of each wildflower discussed. A handy reference for outdoor enthusiasts."--Better Homes and Gardens

Book Description:
Many landscapes in California's mountains are still relatively untouched by human activity and provide excellent opportunities for viewing wildflowers. This guidebook describes and illustrates the wildflowers that grow from the yellow pine belt up into the natural rock gardens that grow above timberline. First published in 1963, this convenient book has introduced thousands to California's mountain wildflowers. Now fully updated and revised, it reflects the many advances in botany that have occurred in the past forty years.

* 257 species are described and illustrated by a new color photograph, a precise line drawing, or both

* Covers all of California's mountain ranges--from the Klamath Mountains and Cascade Range to the north, through the Coast Ranges and the Sierra Nevada, to the peninsular ranges and San Bernardino mountains in southern California--as well as most of the mountain ranges in between

* This new edition includes more plants, gives helpful hints for identifying species, and incorporates new taxonomic and distribution information

About the Author
Philip A. Munz (1892-1974) of the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden was Professor of Botany at Pomona College, serving as Dean for three years.

Coastal Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest: Wildflowers and Flowering Shrubs from British Columbia to Northern California
By Elizabeth L. Horn


A reviewer at Amazon wrote: "This is a great book for the novice botanist. As a person who just recently started trying to identify wildflowers in the Monterey area, I found this book a great guide. I already have a couple of other books, including the ones from the Audubon Society and from the California Native Plant Society, but this one is so simple and covers most of the flowers you commonly see. It's easy to flip through, the pictures are clear and in color, and it certainly doesn't overwhelm you with technical jargon. I was only sorry it doesn't include some of the smaller/tinier flowers I see around. Maybe in the next edition. A great gift!