" Since Kentucky is situated at a biological crossroads in eastern North America, citizens and visitors to this beautiful state are likely to be greeted by an astonishing variety of wildflowers. This non-technical guide -- featuring more than five hundred dazzling full-color photographs by award-winning photographer Thomas G. Barnes -- is the state's new, indispensable guide to the most common species in the Commonwealth. With this book, readers will learn to identify and appreciate Kentucky wildflowers and ferns by matching photographs and leaf line drawings to the more than six hundred and fifty species of flowers covered in the book. Extremely practical and simple to use, the guide's color photographs and line drawings appear with plant descriptions for easy identification, and plants are grouped by flower color and blooming season. Each species listing includes the plant's common and scientific name, plant family, habitat, frequency, and distribution throughout Kentucky, with similar species listed in the notes. There is no other volume that covers the flora of Kentucky with such ease of identification. The first new statewide guide to appear in thirty years, with its combination of high quality photographs, illustrations, portability, and easy organization of information, Wildflowers and Ferns of Kentucky is an essential addition to the library or field pack of the wildflower enthusiast, naturalist, and anyone else who loves the outdoors.
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Editorial Reviews
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"An essential addition to the library or field pack of the wildflower enthusiast or naturalist." -- Kentucky Alumni
"A striking volume, memorable not only for its color photographs and plant descriptions but also for its introductory exposition of such pertinent matters as finding a good definition for 'wildflower' and one for 'weed.'" -- Mountain Eagle
"There isn't a gardener on your gift list who wouldn't be delighted by this book. Don't forget-you need a copy too." -- Southsider
"Wildflowers and Ferns of Kentucky is an extraordinarily beautiful, helpful, full color, 344-page guide showing 634 of the most common species of native ferns and seed-bearing wildflowers in Kentucky." -- State Magazine
"Utilizes strong artistic compositions without compromising the identifiable characteristics of the plant." -- Burpee Museum of Natural History
"This book is an excellent choice for professionals and general readers interested in the flora of Kentucky, adjacent states, and the northeastern US.... Highly recommended." -- Choice
"Contains superb color photographs that make identifying the ferns and flowers much easier." -- Modern Mountain Magazine
"A must-have for Kentuckiana gardeners.... A beautiful book that is easy to use (and carry) as a field guide." -- Perry County News
"An astonishing variety of plant life exists in Kentucky's diverse geography, and the book represents the impressive mix.... Even a botanical novice will benefit from perusing this delightfully blooming book." -- Southern Living
About the Author
Thomas G. Barnes, Ph.D., extension professor of forestry and wildlife specialist in the Department of Forestry, College of Agriculture, at the University of Kentucky, is the author of Kentucky’s Last Great Places.
Naturalist S. Wilson Francis, Ph.D., is park superintendent at Natural Bridge State Resort Park in Kentucky.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Wildflowers and Ferns of Kentucky,
By
This review is from: Wildflowers and Ferns of Kentucky (Hardcover)
this book meets my exact need in a field guide for this region. It provides excellent photos and essential ID facts. For a thorough knowledge base I have to do further research elsewhere, but this book is the gateway for seeing and knowing on site for these plants.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The best since Wharton,
By naturalist1982 (Sassafras, KY) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Wildflowers and Ferns of Kentucky (Hardcover)
Not Since Wharton's 1979 "Wildflowers and Ferns of Kentucky" has there been such an inclusive and elegant treatment of the herbaceous flora of Kentucky. Dr. Barnes and Dr. Francis have created a work which leaves little room for improvement. Information is presented in an easy to read manner, forgoing technical terminology and jargon for more lay descriptions.
The book has two major sections, Ferns and Wildflowers, as the title would suggest. The fern section does an ample job of describing an oft overlooked group of forest plants. Pictures are clear and the descriptions are fairly concise. They have chosen to arrange the wildflowers by flowering period: Spring, Summer and Fall. Each flowering period is then further divided into the color of the bloom. While many botanists would discourage this method as it does not relate the familial associations of the various plants, it makes the guide much more useful to the target audience. Understanding the importance of knowing the familial relationships, they have included a section of text appended to the end of the guide which describes the families of plants described in the preceding sections for those interested. Once again, the photographs in this section are lovely and the text does a good job of pointing out key characteristics necessary for identification. As a whole this book is a wonderful treatment of the ferns and wildflowers of Kentucky. There are more technical works out there but they are neither as readable or as packable as this one. This is an essential addition to any nature lover or naturalist in the state.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very good reference book,
By
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This review is from: Wildflowers and Ferns of Kentucky (Hardcover)
I ordered this book hoping it would provide clear pictures of wilf flowers and it does. It would be a great reference when in the field.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
This low-growing plant has a horizontal stem that creeps above ground. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
glade cress, prairie patches, unbranched plant, common statewide, fertile leaves, wide flower heads, spike arrangement, fertile leaflets, winged stalk, deciduous fern, coarse plant, toothed segments, tubular flowers, fern family, moist woods, alternate leaves, spores occur, evergreen fern, open spike, plant reaching, golden alexanders, flowering stalk, woodland edges, smooth stem, upper leaves Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Appalachian Plateaus, Mississippian Plateau, Cumberland Mountains, Jackson Purchase, Shawnee Hills, Inner Bluegrass, Outer Bluegrass, Abundant There New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
This low-growing plant has a horizontal stem that creeps above ground. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
glade cress, prairie patches, unbranched plant, common statewide, fertile leaves, wide flower heads, spike arrangement, fertile leaflets, winged stalk, deciduous fern, coarse plant, toothed segments, tubular flowers, fern family, moist woods, alternate leaves, spores occur, evergreen fern, open spike, plant reaching, golden alexanders, flowering stalk, woodland edges, smooth stem, upper leaves Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Appalachian Plateaus, Mississippian Plateau, Cumberland Mountains, Jackson Purchase, Shawnee Hills, Inner Bluegrass, Outer Bluegrass, Abundant There New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 20
books:
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1
book
cites this book:
- The Ohio River (Rivers of North America) by Tom Jackson in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
- Wildflowers of the Eastern United States by Wilbur H. Duncan in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- Appalachian Wildflowers by Thomas E. Hemmerly in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- Guide to Flowering Plant Families by Wendy B. Zomlefer in Back Matter
- Synonymized Checklist of Vascular Flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland by John T. Kartesz in Back Matter
See all 20 books this book cites
- A Guide to the Wildflowers of South Carolina by Douglas Alan Rayner in Back Matter
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