Nature and Photography Books 

Wild Splendors of California

Lalo Fiorelli

This photographic essay tours the state, from underwater canyons to the volcanic peaks of the Cascades. Images from underwater in the intertidal zone, coastal redwood rain forests, deserts, alpine forests, the mighty Sierra Nevada, and Mount Shasta.

Chasing the Rain
My Treasure Hunt for the World's Most Beautiful Mushrooms

Taylor F. Lockwood

Taylor Lockwood travels the world in search of the world's most beautiful mushrooms. Through pictures, it relates the diversity of life-forms found in this very large, but still relatively little-known kingdom.

A Day in the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest

Photographs by Dennis Flaherty, Essays by Mark A. Schlenz

Reflects the inspiring beauty of these trees of light in stunning photographic images that give rare glimpses into the seasons of their lives as they are sculpted by wind, ice, and time.

California Trip

by Richard P. Blair & Kathleen P. Goodwin

This is a book about real California — from the era of peace and love and protest marches to the freedom of the open road and the highs of California's wild places. It offers an uncensored look at California that captures its freewheeling spirit and beauty.

Pomegranate Roads
A Soviet Botanist's Exile from Eden

Gregory M. Levin, translated by Margaret Hopstein

A Man who fell in love with pomegranates and risked his life to protect their biodiversity tells his adventurous story in Pomegranate Roads. Ignoring threats, the scientist trekked across Central Asia and the Trans-Caucasus to collect 1,117 varieties of the fruit.

Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest

Photography Larry Ulrich
Interpretive text by Susan Lamb

In the final book of his trilogy of bestselling coffee-table photo essays, Ulrich presents both the shy and the showy flora of the diverse habitats of Oregon, Washington and western Idaho. Ranging from coastal rainforest through mountains and river canyons to deserts, glorious color images portray biodiversity in ways that everyone can appreciate.

Wild Birds of California

David Lukas

California is a great place for wild birds and the people who enjoy watching them! Over 600 bird species inhabit, migrate, or visit here. This lavishly photographed volume features usual and unusual birds in their wildland homes throughout California.

Geologic Trips
San Francisco and the Bay Area

Ted Konigsmark

Written for the non-geologist, this user-friendly book leads readers on fascinating field trips to Bay Area landmarks.

Geologic Trips
Sierra Nevada

Ted Konigsmark

If you have ever wondered how the rocks and scenery of the Sierra Nevada were formed, take this geologic guide with you on your next trip. Written for the non-geologist, this detailed guide describes 116 of the geologic attractions of the Sierra

Treasures from the Kingdom of Fungi
Photographs of Mushrooms and Other Fungi from around the World

Taylor F. Lockwood

This could well be the book that brings mushrooms into the mainstream of nature appreciation. A feast for the eyes and mind, more than 270 spectacular color photos portray an array of mushrooms and other fungi from six continents.

Reefs and Rain Forests
The Natural Heritage of Malaysian Borneo

Text and Photographs by Murray S. Kaufman

This gorgeous book presents a graceful and poignant essay about, and spectacular color photographs of, the two most important and endangered ecosystems on Earth.

Tending The Wild
Native American Knowledge and the Management Of California’s Natural Resources

M. Kat Anderson

This revolutionary book presents an unparalleled examination of Native American knowledge and uses of California's natural resources that reshapes our understanding of native cultures and shows how we might begin to use their knowledge in our own conservation efforts.

Exploring The Eastern Sierra
California & Nevada

Mark A. Schlenz, Photography by Dennis Flaherty

The book begins with a geologic and geographic overview of the Sierra, then follows a south-to-north itinerary from Mt. Whitney and Sierra's east slope through Independence, Bishop, Mammoth Lakes, Mono Lake, Lake Tahoe, Virginia City, Death Valley, and Yosemite.

Kangchenjunga
Guardian of the Eastern Himalaya

Photography by Tim Hauf; Text by Conger Beasley Jr.

Photographer Hauf and writer Beasley blend their superb talents to capture the legendary mountain and the remote terrain of the eastern Himalaya.

Southeast Alaska's Natural World
Amphibians, Birds, Fish, Insects, Mammals, Plants, Other Natural Things

Robert H. Armstrong & Marge Hermans

Discover the fascinating secrets of the unique natural world found in Southeast Alaska. This beautiful book by two residents and naturalists explores both spectacular and subtle and hidden creatures that inhabit this natural world.

Laws Field Guide to the Sierra Nevada

Written and Illustrated by John Muir Laws

The astonishing natural diversity of the Sierra Nevada comes alive in this great field guide, at once comprehensive and yet small enough to fit in your pocket or pack.

Sierra Birds: A Hiker's Guide

Written & Illustrated by John Muir Laws

This book is a brilliantly illustrated, thoroughly annotated, and uniquely arranged guide that anyone — with or without formal training — can use to identify birds in the Sierra Nevada, from Lassen National Forest in the north through Sequoia National Park in the south.

Birds of Napa County

Written & Illustrated by Hermann Heinzel

With over 300 species of birds depicted realistically in their natural environment — poking at the ground or pecking at pinecones — organized by species as well as by season and region, this guide has everything for the experienced or novice birder

Point Reyes Visions, 2nd Edition
Photographs and Essays, Point Reyes National Seashore and West Marin

Kathleen Goodwin
Photographs by Richard Blair

This museum-quality art book captures the striking beauty and untamed nature of the Point Reyes Peninsula. Coverage in this elegant collection includes the landmarks, wildlife, people and rugged spirit of West Marin in all its diverse moods and weather.

The Habitat Garden Book
Wildlife Landscaping for the San Francisco Bay Region

Nancy Bauer

This delightful little guidebook will help you transform your own backyard, patio or community site into a healthy home for a wondrous array of fascinating and beneficial creatures.

Wildflowers of the Plateau and Canyon Country

Photography Larry Ulrich
Interpretive text by Susan Lamb

This photographic essay presents Ulrich's stunning color images of wildflowers in the American Southwest, from the depths of the Grand Canyon to the high mesas of western Colorado.

Mono Lake:
Mirror of Imagination

Dennis Flaherty
Introductory Essay by Mark A. Schlenz

This fine photographic essay portrays in colorful grandeur eastern California 's unique inland sea, now protected as a National Scenic Area, and the gorgeous Sierra landscape that overlooks it.

Death Valley National Park
A Photographic Journey

Fred and Randi Hirschmann

In this eye-catching book, 106 color photographs celebrate much loved desert scenes as well as newly protected areas in this historic California park, now the largest national park in the United States outside of Alaska.

Dragonflies of California and Common Dragonflies of the Southwest
A Beginner’s Pocket Guide

Kathy Biggs

This first and only dragonfly field guide for California and its neighboring states provides clear, concise identification information and stunningly clear color photos of 60 species of dragonflies and damselflies, plus full info for 17 similar species.

The Mindful Hiker
On The Trail To Find The Path

Stephen Altschuler

Altschuler believes that solitude in nature is the way to confront the tests of life by observing how even the smallest forms of life survive. The author leads readers on a walk along the trails of Point Reyes National Seashore, guiding the reader toward

Warrior Mothers
Stories To Awaken The Flames Of The Heart

Thaïs Mazur

Twenty-four women from all walks of life offer their personal stories to inspire and awaken readers from apathy and despair to a call for action.

A Field Guide to Common Plants of the Santa Barbara Foothills and Southern California

Hugh Margerum & David Powdrell

This handy pocket-size field guide features colorful photographs and clear descriptions of plants most likely to be encountered in the coastal ranges of southern California.

Dragonflies of Alaska

John Hudson & Robert H. Armstrong

This handy book shows how to identify all 32 dragonfly species found in Alaska. With beautiful close-up color photos plus detailed line drawings, the book explores many of the fascinating aspects of dragonfly behavior.

Healing with Medicinal Plants of the West; Cultural and Scientific Basis for their Use

Cecilia Garcia & James D. Adams, Jr.

This informative guide covers the traditional healing uses and modern pharmacological data on 110 native plants found in California and the West.

In Denali
A Photographic Essay of Denali National Park & Preserve, Alaska

Text & Photographs by Kim Heacox

Gorgeous book explores the grand landscapes, wildlife, plant life and history of Alaska's vast Denali National Park and Preserve, an area of six million acres.

Wildflowers of California

Photography Larry Ulrich
Interpretive text by Susan Lamb

Ulrich presents a gorgeous array of images, from desert to seashore,interior valley to mountain meadow, showing the delicate beauty of Golden State wildflowers in their myriad forms. The interpretive text by Susan Lamb brings us inside the natural world, and gives a lucid and fascinating lesson in botany.

Visual Guide to Native and Naturalized Coastal County Plants from Santa Cruz to Mendocino

George Pikkarainen

This innovative guide, created for beginners and people unfamiliar with taxonomic language, uses thousands of small color photos and 52 icons along with brief text to clearly organize more than 520 species of plants.

Introduction to Shore Wildflowers of California, Oregon, and Washington
revised edition

Philip A. Munz, Edited by Dianne Lake and Phyllis M. Faber

This guide, first published 40 years ago, is now thoroughly updated and revised. It’s the perfect guide to pack for a day at the seashore anywhere on the Pacific Coast. Describes 268 species with each illustrated...

Introduction to California Spring Wildflowers of the Foothills, Valleys, and Coast
revised edition

Philip A. Munz, Edited by Dianne Lake and Phyllis M. Faber

This popular guidebook, now thoroughly revised, has helped thousands of amateur and intermediate wildflower enthusiasts learn the names of the flowers located in some of the state's loveliest and most accessible areas.

Wildflowers of the Santa Barbara Foothills

David Powdrell & Hugh Margerum

This attractive book opens the door to the mysterious world of backyard botany and natural history with its captivating color photographs and fascinating research of the wildflowers of the Santa Barbara area.

Field Guide to Butterflies of San Francisco Bay and Sacramento Valley Regions

Authur M. Shapiro and Tim Manolis

This guide, written for both beginning and experienced butterfly watchers by one of the nation's best-known professional lepidopterists, provides thorough, up-to-date information on all of the butterfly species of this diverse and accessible region.

Written in lively prose, it discusses the natural history and conservation status for these butterflies and at the same time provides an integrated view of butterfly biology based on studies conducted in northern California and around the world. Compact enough for use in the field, the guide also includes tips on butterfly watching, photography, gardening, and more.

Alaska Light
Ideas and Images from a Northern Land

Essays & Photographs by Kim Heacox

Gorgeous book paints a mosaic of Alaska's diverse landscapes and wildlife, from the Arctic Slope to the Inside Passage, from glaciers and grizzlies to sled dogs and caribou herds.

The Distinctive Qualities of Redwoods

Larry Eifert

This informative booklet describes the unique characteristics of coastal redwoods and the ancient forests they inhabit.

Wildflowers of California Postcard Book

Larry Ulrich

Twenty gorgeous images from the award-winning book on ready-to-send postcards, plus a short introductory essay.

Death Valley—Postcard Book

Fred and Randi Hirschmann

Twenty striking images of this diverse park by some of the West's best nature photographers, plus a short introductory essay.

Mono Lake:
Postcard Book

Dennis Flaherty

Twenty great images by Dennis Flaherty of this mysterious inland sea, plus a short introductory essay.

Wildflowers of the Plateau and Canyon Country
Postcard Book

Photography Larry Ulrich

A companion souvenir to Wildflowers of the Plateau and Canyon Country. Twenty spectacular images from the book, plus a short introductory essay.

Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest

Photography Larry Ulrich
Interpretive text by Susan Lamb

Ulrich presents both the shy and the showy flora of the diverse habitats of Oregon, Washington and western Idaho. Habitats range from coastal rainforest through mountains and river canyons to deserts.

Wildflowers of the Pacific Northwest
Twenty Postcards

Larry Ulrich

A companion souvenir to the larger book.Twenty stunning images plus a short introductory essay.

Eastern Sierra
Twenty Postcards

Dennis Flaherty

Twenty powerful color images of the remarkable landscape on the steep side of one of the world 's great mountain ranges.

Little Trees, Big Sky
Portrait of a Northern Wilderness

Photography Tim Hauf
Text by Conger Beasley Jr.

Tim Hauf made many trips into this daunting wilderness, capturing powerful images that evoke North America's far northern reaches

Butterflies of Arizona
A Photographic Guide

Bob Stewart, Priscilla Brodkin and Hank Brodkin

Naturalist Stewart and friends follow up on his ground-breaking and highly successful Common Butterflies of California with an even more comprehensive guide to the abundant butterflies of the Southwest.

Discover California Wildflowers

Mary Ruth Casebeer
Illustrations by Peggy Edwards-Carkeet

This concise yet detailed field guide by two California Native Plant Society members covers 48 widespread annual wildflowers in the order they bloom. It is presented in clear, readable style, simple enough for school-age plant enthusiasts.

Vineyard Simple
How to Build and Maintain Your Own Small Vineyard

Tom Powers

Finally a book that makes home vineyard planting and wine grape growing accessible to anyone with even a little spare land. Tom Powers has created a how-to book filled with valuable information for the novice viticulturist.

Channel Islands National Park
A Photographic Interpretation

Photography Tim Hauf
Text by Cynthia Andersen

The most complete photographic record of the five Channel Islands of California's least visited national park. Hauf's sparkling images capture rich flora, fauna, cultural sites and landscapes of this offshore wonderland. In breathtaking photos Hauf leads readers on explorations of this natural refuge's wild and rugged coastal beauty, including abundant wildflowers and unusual marine and land animals.