Wildflowers of Texas

I bought this book a few years ago (2009) and I use it to this day every time I'm in the fields. I use this book to identify wildflower species on my property for the purpose wildlife management. I am NOT a botanist or horticulturalist. I like flowers and grasses and need to ID native and non-native species on my property.I'm always finding something new. I love the ease of use due to it's compact size. Compact doesn't mean they skimp out on information. Color photos, not all are close-ups but most are, with clear excellent quality. I have identified more flowers just by looking at the photo. Wildflowers are grouped by color (this makes things easy to find) starting with white, then yellow-orange, red, and last blue-purple. It's a compact size which makes it easy to carry around (although I never do--I take photos of my flowers and then compare it to the photos in the book). I've used it so much that the binding is starting to be affected (but I'm tough on frequently accessed books). It's a tough little paperback.Other field guides, especially grass field guides, group by species or family and assume you know something about botany. I also appreciate the amount of written information on each flower species: Common name, scientific name, bloom period, habitat, a succinct physical description of the flower/plant (e.g., growth type--low creeping, bush, vine, etc.) flower size, leaf shape; and lastly an interesting side note of the plant's history, medicinal properties, or important significance in native American history. What I love about this is that there is a consistency in the information presented. Every flower gets the same attention. Another aspect of the book I love so much is that it presents natives and non-native species (invasive and non-aggressive species--native and non-native clovers are an example).There is only one other book that I refer to almost as much as "Wildflowers of Texas" and that book is Sally Wasowski's "Native Texas Plants"; but this book is geared more toward landscaping with native Texas plants (flowers, shrubs, trees--shade and ornamental). "Wildflowers of Texas" covers HUNDREDS--close to 500 wildflower species. It is a reference book, not a how-to book.I own another volume by Geyata Ajilvsgi (Butterfly Gardening for the South) and that is a butterfly book that I bought at a used book store, quite by accident. Many more flower and shrub species are included in that book with particular focus on butterfly gardens (Ms. Ajilvsgi also describes some butterflies but it is by no means complete--just specific to the flowers and butterflies of the south US.) "Butterfly Gardening for the South" is more of a how-to garden/landscape book.I don't know what else to say about this great little book that hasn't already been said. If you're looking for a how-to garden book this is not it. If you need to identify wildflower species, this is an excellent book especially if you live in the south (Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana for example). I know that some species are native to the US and reach well beyond Texas borders but you will not find California Poppy in this book (what I'm trying to say, keep your garden region in mind).

Beautiful photos so I can find what my (new state of Texas) yard has and what local natives I can add.

I have LOTS of field guides. I take a lot of photos "in the wild," and have a pathological need to identify what's in the picture.Wildflowers of Texas scores high on several counts:Color coded entries. While the very best field guide format I've encountered is the Audubon guides, which not only sort entries by color, but also shape, etc. (taxonomic form?), I've found most guides out there sort the flowers by family. True, I'm getting good enough to know a mallow from an aster -- but, really, if I knew what the flower is, why need a guide? So, as far as the Texas specific guides I've encountered go, this one is the first I reach for, because of that first level sort.The other reason I rate it highly, and reach for it often, are Ajilvsgi's notes about the flower and plant: how it got its name, how it was used historically, and other interesting bits. Being a collector of eclectica, this falls right into my psyche.The pictures are also very clear and helpful. True, you wander into the yet another yellow composite section and identification gets iffy in a hurry, especially from a picture. But the AYCs give even the pros problems, so I don't feel TOO badly.Highly recommended (in fact, THIS one was purchased as a gift for a flower-savvy friend of mine). That's pretty high praise, that I would buy it to give away, eh?

Easy to use, find your flowers by color!

This book has so many outstanding qualities:1)an extensive number of species, which is no small task in a state as large and as geographically heterogeneous as Texas2)excellent written descriptions with notes on everything including medicinal and native food uses, alternate names, histories of discovery, and garden suitability3)clear photographs organized by colorThe organization of the book is not always optimal for use as a field guide. At times I have had some trouble using this book to id a species and have turned to the internet first and then read the relevant entry from the book. If the book was to be re-edited for use as a field id, it would be helpful to use multiple indexing systems like the Audubon guides do. For example, the book could retain the descriptions and organization of the flowers by color and then include a second section with smaller thumbnails organized by leaf/plant shape or a section of thumbnails organized by habitat (ie a list of all desert flowers, a list of wetland flowers, a list of prairie flowers.) Even a small graphical icon at the corner of the photos which could indicate general plant size or leaf shape might help speed searches. I also wish there were entries to include species with ornamental berries. However, changes to the book might be difficult since it is already a large guide and it would be a challenge to find room for additional material.

I have a special needs child who loves to rip up books. She got her hands on this book, and she hasn’t managed to tear a single page. She’s been thumbing through this book for weeks. I’ll be buying more nature guides from this publisher.

I was given this book back in 1989 and somewhere, somehow I left it during a move. I was so happy and pleased to find it here on Amazon. There great photos to help you to identify the beautiful wildflowers of Texas.

I love this book! It is perfect for beginners (like me) who borrow their neighbor's book so much that it falls apart. I bought 2 books; one for me and one for the Master Gardener.This book is beautifully photographed, organized with detail and written so easily that I want to learn everything about flowers!I am a photographer first but this book has brought out a passion to learn more. I share what I learn with others and hope my enthusiasm plants a seed for them to learn more!

excelente, llego rapidisimo, me ha sido muy util, las imagenes estan claras muy bien impresas.