100 Common Wildflowers Of The Tallgrass Prairie

At one time, the tallgrass prairie of North America spread from the center of the continent eastward as far as Kentucky-a vast sea of wildflowers and grasses, many as tall as a horse. Today, the extent of the prairie is reduced, but the spectacular plants continue to bring splashes of white, yellow, blue, and purple to preserved and restored prairie throughout their former range. 100 Common Wildflowers of the Tallgrass Prairie is an indispensable guide to the names, characteristics, and traditional uses of the flowering plants. Features: more than 100 photographs ; species encountered in tallgrass prairies from Canada to Texas, nebraska to Indiana ; information on how to identify each species ; and approximate bloom times.

This classic of midwestern natural history is back in print with a new format and new photographs. Originally published in 1989, Wildflowers of the Tallgrass Prairie introduced many naturalists to the beauty and diversity of the native plants of the huge grasslands that once stretched from Manitoba to Texas. Now redesigned with updated names and all-new photographs, this reliable field companion will introduce tallgrass prairie wildflowers to a new generation of outdoor enthusiasts in the Upper Midwest. Each species account is accompanied by a brilliant full-page color photograph by botanist Thomas Rosburg. In clear, straightforward, and accessible prose, authors Sylvan Runkel and Dean Roosa provide common, scientific, and family names; the Latin or Greek meaning of the scientific names; habitat and blooming times; and a complete description of plant, flower, and fruit. Particularly interesting is the information on the many ways in which Native Americans and early pioneers used these plants for everything from pain relief to dyes to hairbrushes. Runkel and Roosa say that prairies can be among the most peaceful places on earth; certainly they are among the most beleaguered. Wildflowers of the Tallgrass Prairie will inspire both amateurs and professionals with the desire to learn more about the wonders of the prairie landscape.

A useful tool for both the novice and the expert, this guide identifies over 250 flowers and grasses.

Presents photographs and descriptions of over three hundred tallgrass prairie wildflower species, arranged by color and family, each with information on its size and features, blooming seasons, habitats, and geographic ranges, and includes a glossary and a directory of tallgrass prairies in thirteen states.

America’s prairies are home to some of the most abundant and beautiful wildflowers in the country. Now, with Prairie Wildflowers, readers will be able to locate and identify the many gorgeous flowering species blooming in America’s heartland.

Midwestern gardeners and landscapers are becoming increasingly attracted to noninvasive regional native wildflowers and plants over popular nonnative species. The Midwestern Native Garden offers viable alternatives to both amateurs and professionals, whether they are considering adding a few native plants or intending to go native all the way. Native plants improve air and water quality, reduce use of pesticides, and provide vital food and reproductive sites to birds and butterflies, that nonnative plants cannot offer, helping bring back a healthy ecosystem. The authors provide a comprehensive selection of native alternatives that look similar or even identical to a range of nonnative ornamentals. These are native plants that are suitable for all garden styles, bloom during the same season, and have the same cultivation requirements as their nonnative counterparts. Plant entries are accompanied by nature notes setting out the specific birds and butterflies the native plants attract. The Midwestern Native Garden will be a welcome guide to gardeners whose styles range from formal to naturalistic but who want to create an authentic sense of place, with regional natives. The beauty, hardiness, and easy maintenance of native Midwestern plants will soon make them the new favorites.

Field guide to wildflowers of the short-grass prairie.