This is a beautifully illustrated wildflower book for nonprofessionals, focused on the mountains of central New Mexico, including 715 color photographs of different organs and developmental stages of 201 common species occurring at approximately 6,000-11,000 feet elevation. Plant descriptions include their typical habitats, blooming period, floral and vegetative characteristics, uses by southwestern Native American tribes, the plant’s common and scientific names and plant family. Plants are divided first by flower color, then by family common name, then by scientific name.

This unique reference work describes over 350 wildflowers and flowering shrubs that grow in New Mexico’s Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, Sandia, and Manzano Mountains, as well as neighboring ranges, including the Manzanita, San Pedro, Ortiz, and other lower-elevation mountains in central portions of the state. With more than a thousand color photographs accompanied by visual descriptions, the easy-to-use guide organizes plants first by flower color, then alphabetically by family common name, then by scientific name. The authors also include information on traditional uses of the plants by indigenous peoples and an extensive glossary and bibliography. A brief geological history and description of the ranges examines the different life zones and ecosystems and how these relate to elevation and microclimates. Wildflower enthusiasts and hikers will welcome this useful book.

This unique reference work describes over 350 wildflowers and flowering shrubs that grow in New Mexico's Sangre de Cristo, Jemez, Sandia, and Manzano Mountains, as well as neighboring ranges, including the Manzanita, San Pedro, Ortiz, and other lower-elevation mountains in central portions of the state. With more than a thousand color photographs accompanied by visual descriptions, the easy-to-use guide organizes plants first by flower color, then alphabetically by family common name, then by scientific name. The authors also include information on traditional uses of the plants by indigenous peoples and an extensive glossary and bibliography. A brief geological history and description of the ranges examines the different life zones and ecosystems and how these relate to elevation and microclimates. Wildflower enthusiasts and hikers will welcome this useful book.

Best Wildflower Hikes New Mexico is the ultimate guide to the greatest nature adventures in the Land of Enchantment. Wildflower descriptions and full-color photography throughout complement detailed hiking profiles and maps to over forty scenic routes. Written by naturalist and outdoor writer Christina Selby, Best Wildflower Hikes New Mexico introduces readers to the spectacular beauty of the American Southwest.

This classic hiking guide to Albuquerque’s Sandia Mountain is completely updated with color photographs, up-to-date trail descriptions, detailed maps, additional GPS data, and modified difficulty ratings for many of the featured hikes. This expanded edition also includes seven new trail descriptions, two dozen “Family Friendly” outings for hikers of all ages and abilities, and insightful “Safety First” considerations for moderate-to-difficult trails. The beautiful hikes described here, including round-trip distances, total about three hundred miles. Individual entries detail the length, elevation gain, and degree of difficulty for each trail. The author also provides detailed directions to trailheads and describes the trail terrain, scenic viewpoints, vegetation, and neighboring trails. Twenty-six contour maps of the trails throughout the Sandias are included in the interior. Additionally, a stand-alone, water-resistant, color map of the mountain trail system has been updated to accompany the hiking guide.

Winner of the 2020 New Mexico-Arizona Book Award for Sports/Recreation This classic hiking guide to Albuquerque's Sandia Mountain is completely updated with color photographs, up-to-date trail descriptions, detailed maps, additional GPS data, and modified difficulty ratings for many of the featured hikes. This expanded edition also includes seven new trail descriptions, two dozen "Family Friendly" outings for hikers of all ages and abilities, and insightful "Safety First" considerations for moderate-to-difficult trails. The beautiful hikes described here, including round-trip distances, total about three hundred miles. Individual entries detail the length, elevation gain, and degree of difficulty for each trail. The author also provides detailed directions to trailheads and describes the trail terrain, scenic viewpoints, vegetation, and neighboring trails. Twenty-six contour maps of the trails throughout the Sandias are included in the interior. Additionally, a stand-alone, water-resistant, color map of the mountain trail system has been updated to accompany the hiking guide.

The hiking trails in the Sandia Mountains are one of the great assets of Albuquerque, for residents and visitors alike. This book will help more people take advantage of these beautiful places to walk, most of them hitherto unmapped. It introduces sixty short hikes in the public lands on the eastern edge of the city. Some of the hikes are in the foothills and some are in the lower slopes of the mountains. Most are less than four miles long, and all are easy to access. They range in difficulty from easy to very hard. Included are useful tips for how to reach the trails, where to park, and how to stay safe and avoid trespassing on private property. Each hike also features downloadable digital route data that can be easily used with smartphones or GPS units.

More than a field guide, this work offers cultural and botanical essays that present useful and fascinating facts about 75 species of wildflowers, including strategies for survival, plant evolution, origins of common and scientific plant names, family characteristics, and their roles in human history.

An experienced outdoors writer, naturalist, and family camper, Christina M. Selby offers families an in-depth guide to experiencing the natural splendors of New Mexico in New Mexico Family Outdoor Adventure. With more than eighty destinations throughout the state, the Land of Enchantment offers abundant opportunities for exploration with hiking, biking, camping, skiing, wildlife watching, fishing, climbing, outdoor cultural activities, and more. Parents, grandparents, children, tweens, and teenagers will enjoy the activities and locations that Selby has enjoyed with her family and features throughout the book. Organized geographically, with easy-to-use maps, the guide explores every corner of the state with detailed descriptions and beautiful photography of trails, campsites, rivers, and lakes. At each location, every outdoor activity is graded in terms of difficulty and age-appropriateness, so you'll know exactly the right activities for every member of your family. Whether you're planning your first family adventure or are an experienced outdoors family, pick a destination and get outside. What are you waiting for?

A Chinese classic, the Shan Hai Jing, reportedly from 2000 BC claimed travels to the ends of the earth. However, today many, while accepting the antiquity of this account, believe it was just mythology. But was it?Testing the hypothesis that the Shan Hai Jing described actual surveys of North America, Charlotte Harris Rees, author of books about early Chinese exploration, followed an alleged 1100 mile Chinese trek along the eastern slope of the US Rocky Mountains. The Chinese account should have been easy to disprove. In the travelogue Did Ancient Chinese Explore America? Rees candidly shares her initial doubts then her search and discoveries. She weaves together history, subtle humor, academic studies, and many photographs to tell a compelling story.