Michigan Wildflowers in Color, Revised Edition with Wildflower Walks (Wildflowers)

The flower photographs are grouped by color for ease of location. They are then listed in the order in which they appear during the growing season, which is a little trickier to use. I basically start at the beginning of a color group and page through until I find the flower I'm trying to identify. There are generally six photographs to a page, with the text on the facing page. In some cases, the photographs are a bit too small to easily recognize the flower, but when combined with the text there should be no identification problem.

At the beginning of "Michigan Wildflowers in Color," the author has illustrated textual terms such as 'stipules' or 'basal leaves' with a collection of line drawings. The plant descriptions include location, seasonal display, height, and information on whether the flower is protected and should not be picked or moved.

There is a quiz at the back of the book to test your 'flower power.' There is also an 'Observer's List' to keep track of the flowers you do find. Unfortunately, the first entry I wanted to check off wasn't on the list! Perhaps this is because Crown Vetch is not really a wild flower, although its photograph and description appear in the main section of this book.

The author has also mapped out eight wildflower trails in various Michigan habitats, plus the seasonal species of flowers that can be found there.

In total, "Michigan Wildflowers in Color" is a very helpful guide, especially when used in combination with a book like the Peterson "Field Guide to Wildflowers" where the drawings might serve as a confirmation or a backup to Lund's photographs. Leaves in particular are easier to identify through Peterson's drawings.


Michigan Wildflowers in Color   August 23, 2002
 9 out of 9 found this review helpful

I have found this guide extremely helpful in identifying species found near our summer home in Michigan. It has excellent photographs, arranged by color, and a chart showing habitats, seasons, and growing conditions. There is a blank chart for entering your own finds. It is informative and user friendly. I would recommend it highly to both novice and experienced wildflower lovers.