Hugh Nourse

Wildflower lovers across Georgia know Hugh and Carol Nourse through their popular slide lectures. Countless other enthusiasts have seen their glorious wildflower photographs in books and magazines. Here the Nourses draw on years of travel around the state to share their favorite places for seeing wildflowers. Of the many walks the Nourses have taken, these are the ones they return to most often because of the density or the unusual nature of the floral display. All twenty of these wildflower walks are on public land; everything you need to know about how to find them and what to do once you're there is included. Five walks are presented from each of Georgia's four geographic regions: Cumberland Plateau/Ridge and Valley (northwestern Georgia); Blue Ridge (northeastern Georgia); Piedmont (Georgia foothills and fall line); and Coastal Plain (all of Georgia below the fall line). For each walk, a scenic photo gives a hint of the locale's overall character. In addition, five of the wildflowers encountered on the walk are profiled with a photograph and a detailed description. All of the wildflowers on these walks are native to Georgia. A few are rare and endangered. Common plant names are used in the main text; the index lists both common and scientific names. Coverage of each walk includes directions and a trail map plus information about:flowering seasonpeak flowering periodflower habitatswalk length and difficultyrestroom availabilityapplicable fees

These 145 spectacular color photographs celebrate nature's cycles in a splendid and diverse southern garden. Each month for more than six years, Carol and Hugh Nourse have explored the paths and collections of the State Botanical Garden of Georgia in Athens, capturing the kaleidoscope of its seasons. In this large-format, beautifully produced volume, we move by season and scale from detailed close-ups to atmospheric vistas. From the subdued blues of a snow-covered garden to the dazzling golden light on scarlet leaves in autumn, the Nourses' keen and affectionate eyes have captured not only the living forms, but the essence of a garden in all its changing moods. A general introduction traces the history and development of this public garden, and brief sectional essays describe the special features of the Garden in each season. The sequence begins aptly with the glorious explosion of spring and meanders joyfully through the waxing and waning of the seasons to the stark forms of winter. An "Under Glass" section showcases tropical and sub-tropical jewels in the three-story conservatory. In the foreword, Garden director Jeff Lewis points out that the Nourses' photographs enable us to "notice details we might otherwise miss--symmetry, texture, form, color." Dedicated volunteers with the Garden's Plant Conservation Program, the Nourses champion conservation in a uniquely powerful way by simply letting the beauty of nature speak for itself. As they turn our eyes to the intricate, fragile beauty of tiny wildflowers and lacy ruffles of peeling bark, we begin to see this and all gardens with new wonder.

Wildflowers are among nature's loveliest offerings, and this book showcases the native flowering plants that are on display all throughout Georgia. For eight years, Hugh and Carol Nourse traveled the state, from the Coastal Plain to the Blue Ridge mountains and all points in between, finding and photographing wildflowers in their own habitats and in their best blooming seasons. The 86 vividly detailed photographs presented in this large-format volume capture the diversity and splendor of these sometimes elusive plants, many of which are endangered by human activities. Each photo is accompanied by a concise caption that provides common and scientific names, place and season photographed, and information on whether the plant is a Georgia protected plant. Armchair naturalists will not have to leave the comfort of their homes to appreciate this photographic collection of many of the state's wildflowers, but readers inspired to undertake their own search for these beauties will find suggestions for hiking trails and other sites to view wildflowers. Anyone who loves Georgia will treasure this book, and wildflower lovers everywhere will appreciate this beautiful depiction of the state's botanical diversity.