Customer Reviews

Wildflowers of the Desert Southwest

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A great introduction to the common wildflowers of the Sonoran, Chihuahuan, and Mojave deserts of the southwestern United States. This little book has great photographs and simple clear concise descriptions of each species. There are even some very interesting ethnobotanical tidbits for many of the species, which I found fascinating. Each flower is conveniently grouped by color, which contributes to its ease of use in the field. I highly recommend it to anyone visiting our southwestern deserts in the springtime!

If you "blink" you might miss them. Not literally, of course, for each year some desert wildflowers bloom, particular in the shady areas of arroyos. Every few years or so, conditions in the desert become more optimal, better amounts of moisture coupled with the right temperatures and sunlight, and then suddenly the proverbial "carpets" of desert flowers erupt. Either way, the flowers of the desert can attract, and even seduce. Meg Quinn has written a solid guide about the flowers along the way on your desert hikes.

The book contains a good map outlining the extent of the four principal deserts of the American Southwest: Chihuahuan, the Great Basin, Sonoran, and Mojave. She admits that her selection of flowers is weight more towards the latter two. Eighty-four desert flowers are identified: one to each page, with a quality picture sufficient for identification purposes. The common name of the flower heads each page, followed by its scientific (Latin) name, along with the flower's "family." This is followed by a brief (3-5 sentence) description of its habitat and characteristics. The flower's range and elevation are highlighted. At the end, there is a brief glossary and bibliography.

Favorites? The Desert Paintbrush, and the Sacred Datura. Certainly they are easy to identify!

Overall, a solid, useful guidebook, for anyone living in the Southwest, or passing through. 4-stars.