A standard-setting, state-of-the-art field guide to Indiana's (and surrounding states') wildflowers.

The Hoosier State produced many well-known yet down-to-earth individuals such as David Letterman, Jane Pauley, and John Mellencamp. State history, and major geographic and cultural landmarks are presented in a fun, engaging manner.

Presents the history, geography, government, economy, and people of Indiana, as well as general facts about the state.

"This book examines the experiences of ethnic Germans fleeing the Russian advance into Eastern Europe, German civilians seeking refuge from bombed-out urban areas, non-Germans liberated from concentration camps or compulsory labor facilities, refugee bureaucrats from both Germany and the United Nations, American soldiers and erstwhile occupiers, and the community of Wildflecken itself"--Jacket.

Orchids enchant us as few other plants do, yet most people know surprisingly little about what may be the largest plant family on earth. A case in point: how many would have guessed that only three species of orchids occur naturally in Hawaii, while Indiana has forty-three? In this handsome and comprehensive volume, Michael Homoya gives us an inside look at Indiana's wild orchids, detailing their distinguishing characteristics, habitat preferences, and state and continental ranges. With over 100 color plates and scientific illustrations complementing the text and depicting each orchid as it occurs in Indiana's landscape, Orchids of Indiana will delight naturalists and orchid lovers everywhere.

As the definitive identification guide to the shrubs and woody vines of Indiana, this book also provides coverage of 90% of the species to be found in surrounding Midwestern US states. As well as covering indigenous species, it also includes all currently known invasive shrubs. Written by two leading experts in plant taxonomy, the guide is prepared in the same attractive, easy-to-use format as the bestselling Native Trees of the Midwest. Descriptive text explains how to identify every species in any season, and original color photographs taken by Sally Weeks detail all important characteristics. The authors provide practical guidance concerning the potential ornamental value of each species for those interested in landscaping and also evaluate their potential value for encouraging wildlife. Designed for experts in natural resource management as well as the interested general public, the volume includes distribution maps, identification keys, and an index of both common and Latin names.

For over a decade, artist Jimmy Fike traveled across the continental United States in an epic effort to photograph wild edible flora. Edible Plants is the culmination of that journey, featuring over 100 photographs that Fike has selectively colorized to highlight the comestible part of the plant. While the images initially appear to be scientific illustrations or photograms from the dawn of photography when plants were placed directly on sensitized paper and exposed under the sun, a closer look reveals, according to Liesl Bradner of the Los Angeles Times, "haunting [and] eerily beautiful" photographs. Beyond instilling wonder, Fike's contemporary, place-based approach to landscape photography emphasizes our relationship to the natural world, reveals food sources, and encourages environmental stewardship. His clever and beautiful method makes it easy to identify both the specimen and its edible parts and includes detailed descriptions about the plant's wider purposes as food and medicine. Sumptuously illustrated and delightfully informative, Edible Plants is the perfect gift for anyone curious about unlocking the secrets of native North American plants.

"In Madre Maria's prose, a down-to-earth treatment of daily life both on a provincial hacienda and in a cloistered convent moves into passages rendering deep mystical absorption. As a charismatic woman living according to Counter Reformation guidelines in the New World, Maria de San Jose, through her writings, illuminates how class, race, gender - even birth order and convent prestige - helped shape the roles people played in society and the ways in which they contributed to community belief and identity." --Book Jacket.

In this eloquent plea for compassion and respect for all species, journalist and gardener Nancy Lawson describes why and how to welcome wildlife to our backyards. Through engaging anecdotes and inspired advice, profiles of home gardeners throughout the country, and interviews with scientists and horticulturalists, Lawson applies the broader lessons of ecology to our own outdoor spaces. Detailed chapters address planting for wildlife by choosing native species; providing habitats that shelter baby animals, as well as birds, bees, and butterflies; creating safe zones in the garden; cohabiting with creatures often regarded as pests; letting nature be your garden designer; and encouraging natural processes and evolution in the garden. The Humane Gardener fills a unique niche in describing simple principles for both attracting wildlife and peacefully resolving conflicts with all the creatures that share our world.