Natural phenomena and vegetation are introduced in this beautifully illustrated guide to the plant life found along the Appalachian Trail. Printed on the same waterproof, rip-proof plastic as the Duraguide™ line, this Pocket Naturalist Guide is highly durable for use in the field as it provides a portable reference to a variety of common trees, shrubs, and wildflowers that occur along the trail as well as information on the blooming season of the trail's flowering plants. Hikers, from the thru-hiker to the casual afternoon backpacker, will savor the abundance of detailed information packed within this hand-held guide.

This richly illustrated field guide serves as an introduction to the wildflowers and plant communities of the southern Appalachians and the rolling hills of the adjoining piedmont. Rather than organizing plants, including trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants, by flower color or family characteristics, as is done in most guidebooks, botanist Tim Spira takes a holistic, ecological approach that enables the reader to identify and learn about plants in their natural communities. This approach, says Spira, better reflects the natural world, as plants, like other organisms, don't live in isolation; they coexist and interact in myriad ways. Full-color photo keys allow the reader to rapidly preview plants found within each of the 21 major plant communities described, and the illustrated species description for each of the 340 featured plants includes fascinating information about the ecology and natural history of each plant in its larger environment. With this new format, readers can see how the mountain and piedmont landscapes form a mosaic of plant communities that harbor particular groups of plants. The volume also includes a glossary, illustrations of plant structures, and descriptions of sites to visit. Whether you're a beginning naturalist or an expert botanist, this guidebook is a useful companion on field excursions and wildflower walks, as well as a valuable reference. Southern Gateways Guide is a registered trademark of the University of North Carolina Press

With a new cover, more extensive index, and list of organizations, the new edition of Wildflowers of the Appalachian Trail is the go-to resource for anyone interested in the wildflowers found along the 2,175-mile-long Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Stunning full-page color photos by Joe Cook and Monica Cook accompany the detailed descriptions by author Leonard Adkins that include: bloom season, leaves and stem descripotion, geographic range of growth, and location of the flower along the AT. Also included for many of the 94 flowers profiled in the book is the fascinating role the flower has played through history and its value in folkloric as well as modern medicine.

Hike the AT, and Get to Know Its Nature The Appalachian Trail’s soaring elevations and precipitous terrain are complemented by lush vegetation, abundant wildlife, and some of the most beautiful views in the world. You can conquer part or all of the AT on foot. Along the way, immerse yourself in its nature. Leonard M. Adkins has thru-hiked the AT five times, and he has spent countless hours studying it. Now, he’s sharing his expertise with you. Nature of the Appalachian Trail is an overview of more than 2,000 miles worth of information! There’s no need to shoulder dozens of different books in your backpack. This comprehensive naturalist’s guide includes a look at the mountains’ history, a study of the land’s geology, and detailed information about the trail’s birds, mammals, trees, flowers, reptiles, amphibians, and more. Inside you’ll find: Complete overview of the entire trail Detailed guide to its flora and fauna In-depth discussion of the region’s history and geology Expert insights from a professional naturalist Nature of the Appalachian Trail is your visitor’s companion to unbroken forest from Georgia to Maine. It is applicable to the states of Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia.

With a new cover, more extensive index, and list of organizations, the new edition of Wildflowers of the Appalachian Trail is the go-to resource for anyone interested in the wildflowers found along the 2,175-mile-long Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Stunning full-page color photos by Joe Cook and Monica Cook accompany the detailed descriptions by author Leonard Adkins that include: bloom season, leaves and stem descripotion, geographic range of growth, and location of the flower along the AT. Also included for many of the 94 flowers profiled in the book is the fascinating role the flower has played through history and its value in folkloric as well as modern medicine.

Using full-color photography and expertly crafted prose, Wildflowers of the Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains turns a day hike or drive through our nation's most beautiful and rugged expanse of forested mountains into an object lesson in the stunning beauty of nature.

If you love waterfalls, here are some of the best hikes in the Southern Appalachians. And if you love plants--or simply would like to learn more about them--you will be in hiking heaven: naturalist Tim Spira's guidebook links waterfalls and wildflowers in a spectacularly beautiful region famous for both. Leading you to gorgeous waterfalls in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, South Carolina, and Georgia, the book includes many hikes in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and along the Blue Ridge Parkway. As he surveys one of America's most biologically diverse regions, Spira introduces hikers to the "natural communities" approach for identifying and understanding plants within the context of the habitats they occupy--equipping hikers to see and interpret landscapes in a new way. Each of the 30 hikes includes: * a detailed map and GPS coordinates * a lively trail description highlighting the plants you are most likely to see, as well as birds and other animals along the way * an associated plant species list Also featured: * beautiful color photographs of 30 destination waterfalls, 125 plants, and more * detailed descriptions of 125 key plant species * 22 drawings to help identify plant structures * a glossary of botanical terms