Utah Wildflowers: A Field Guide To Northern And Central Mountains And Valleys

by Richard J. Shaw

A visual guide to the wildflowers that inhabit the mountains and valleys of northern and central Utah every spring and summer. A must for the hiker, biker, or lover of the outdoors. Includes over 100 full-color photographs.

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Claudia Putnam · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm finding this frustrating at the moment. If this is to be reprinted, I'd suggest a different organization. Categorize it by elevation, lowest first, with notations for flowers that will appear at higher elevations. For each entry clearly mark seasons. In this book, each write-up mentions months or elevations randomly, ie, at different points in the paragraph. In some cases, no elevations, habitats, or dates are given at all. It also mentions herbal applications, toxicity, or edibility randomly. I've been able to look things up and find uses that were not mentioned. I'd suggest:

* Break the book into elevations: Foothills, midmontane or subalpine, and high alpine. Within this, you can have color ranges. If a plant crosses to higher elevations, simply mark it with a star and note this.
*After the plant's name(s), list out in bullet form:
-Habitat
-Months of bloom
-Traditional uses, if any, including edibility
-Warnings
*Follow these consistent presentations with a paragraph in the author's voice about what to look for in order to identify the plant, and his own responses to the flower, what it's like to come upon it, and other commentary that helps make the book more than a guide.

Hope this helps!

[02kalim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Simple and helpful, but could be organized better, instead of just by color.

[Robert Banghart · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't know the wildflowers of Utah when I moved here earlier this year. I bought this book to introduce me to the subject and I have referred to it continuously since my purchase.