Heyday Books

The most extensive guide to identifying the flowering plants in California''s richly diverse Sierra Nevada mountains.This photographic guide to the wildflowers of the Sierra Nevada has been over twenty-five years in the making, drawing together spectacular images by Stephen Sharnoff, the photographer of the acclaimed Lichens of North America, and informative text by botanist Joanna Clines, who has decades of field experience and is a top authority on the region''s flowers. Comprehensive and deeply researched, it will help users identify 1,000 flowers found in California’s iconic mountain range, from our celebrated manzanitas and lovely lupines to tiny California popcorn flowers. The book''s detail will satisfy die-hard plant experts, while helpfully annotated photographs—pointing to fruits, anatomical features, and color variations—will guide beginners to botanizing.The geographic range stretches from the western foothills through the alpine zone, and down to about 6,000 feet on the eastern slope; and from Lake Almanor in the north to the Tehachapi Mountains.

The best-selling, ultimate guide to nature drawing and journaling! A potent combination of art, science, and boundless enthusiasm, this art instruction book from John Muir Laws (author of The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds) is a how-to guide for becoming a better artist and a more attentive naturalist. In straightforward text complemented by step-by-step illustrations, dozens of exercises lead the hand and mind through creating accurate reproductions of plants and animals as well as landscapes, skies, and more. Laws provides clear, practical advice for every step of the process for artists at every level, from the basics of choosing supplies to advanced techniques. While the book’s advice will improve the skills of already accomplished artists, the emphasis on seeing, learning, and feeling will make this book valuable—even revelatory—to anyone interested in the natural world, no matter how rudimentary their artistic abilities.