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My Favorite Flora Books |
by Tom Collins,
HCMG,TMN |
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Let me introduce myself. My
name is Thomas “Tom”
Collins. I'm a sixth
generation Texan, who
was born in San Antonio,
raised in Helotes, went
off to college (Texas
A&M), followed by a tour
in Vietnam, back to Lake
Jackson Texas where I
worked for Dow Chemical
for 31 years. While
there we raised two
children (well actually
my wife did), and we
both decided to retire
back to our roots - my
wife is also a sixth
generation Texan and
went to that other
school in Austin. I am a
Brazoria County Master
Gardener and a Texas
Master Naturalist
(Founded the Cradle of
Texas Chapter and now a
member of the Hill
County Chapter). |
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My passion is birding
and butterfly watching.
Sherry (that's my wife)
and I have traveled all
over the world (six
continents and 20
countries) chasing
birds. Over the years we
have built a large
collection of bird and
naturalist history
books. I am also
interested in and study
flora, mammals,
dragonflies, moths,
fungi, and fossils. |
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While growing up in the
hill county (1943-60) I
learned a lot about
nature. My mother
was a naturalist who
used her ancient and
monster Audubon book to
keep notes on birds, an
even older book to keep
her flora records, and
who annually re-read her
first edition of Roy
Bedicheck's Adventures
with a Texas Naturalist.
I still own all her
books and that finally
brings me back to the
purpose of my article. |
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While in the Cradle of
Texas Master Naturalist
Chapter, I would
occasionally write
reviews on books I
owned. Over the years, I
have collected a lot of
natural history books -
good and not so good. I
take time to read every
page of any book I buy
no matter how difficult
that can be. My belief
is that if you want to
learn the natural
history around you, then
first you need a good
library of books. Then
you need to read and use
them. Write in them, get
them dirty and wet, bend
page corners, press your
leaves in them, make
your own notes, and keep
them with you no matter
where you go.
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I recently dropped a
note to Pam Bresler (she
and I went to high
school together – I was
three years ahead of
her) and mentioned that
I might be able to write
an article about my
favorite ten natural
history books or my
favorite five flora
books. Well, that’s what
I get for opening my
mouth (or my e-mail,
that is); Pam quickly
replied suggesting it
might be something great
to do before Christmas
as books make good
gifts. I can just see
people lined up at the
MG Christmas meeting
wanting to stuff a book
they got for Christmas
down my throat. Maybe
I’ll skip that meeting. |
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So here are my five
(more or less) favorite
Hill County Flora books
by the categories of
Wildflowers, Grasses,
Trees/Shrubs/Vines,
Landscape, and
Propagation. I picked
these from the
thirty-two flora books I
currently own. |
Wildflowers
Wildflowers of the
Texas Hill Country;
Marshall Enquist;
Lone Star Botanical,
first edition, April
1989
The best wildflower book
for the Hill Country. I
use it all the time.
Arranged by taxonomy.
Wildflowers of
Texas; Geyata
Ajilvsgi; Shearer
Publishing, revised
edition March 2003
Love her book — it fits
in the hip pocket of my
jeans — but hate
pronouncing her name.
More of a general Texas
field guide and does not
fully cover the Hill
Country. Arranged by
flower color. |
Grasses
Grasses of the
Texas Hill Country;
A Field Guide;
Brian and Shirley Loflin;
Texas A&M University
Press, April 30, 2006
An easy to use book for
the Hill County Grasses.
One of the first grass
books with photos and in
color, plant and
inflorescence.
Common Texas
Grasses, An Illustrated
Guide; Frank W.
Gould; Texas A&M
University Press
More of a scientific
book, line drawings and
no photos, but still an
excellent reference
book. (Mine is stuffed
with grasses.)
Know Your Grasses;
Dr. Barron S. Rector;
Texas A&M TCE
publication
A simple guide with line
drawings showing full
plant and close-ups of
inflorescence. |
Trees / Shrubs and Woody
Vines
Trees, Shrubs, and
Vines of the Texas Hill
Country; Jan
Wrede; Texas A&M
University Press
I found this book very
useful after only a
short time on my ranch.
Introduction is too
lengthy, but has
excellent photos and
reasonably good
descriptions.
Texas Trees: A
Friendly Guide;
Paul W. Cox, Patty
Leslie; Corona
Publishing Co.; New
edition, August 1988
I have used this book
all over Texas, love it,
and it is full of
pressed leaves. Does not
cover woody vines, but
still fun to own. Lots
of natural history
information to go along
with the tech stuff. |
Landscapes and Native
Gardens
Native Texas
Plants, Region by Region;
Sally and Andy Wasowski;
Gulf Publishing; 2 Sub
edition, May 25, 2002
If you can get this
book, then buy it. It’s
a wonderful book to read
with great pictures and
guides on how to
landscape based on where
you live. Includes
forbs, grasses and woody
plants native to Texas,
and how and where to
plant them. May be out
of print in its original
version. I have a few
others, but this is by
far the best.
Plant Propagation
How to Grow Native
Plants of Texas and the
Southwest;
Jill Nokes;
University of Texas
Press; Revised edition,
May 15, 2001
This is the bible on how
to propagate almost any
native Texas flora
species. Be prepared for
a lot of technical
directions. Includes
collection and storage
of plant material, and
propagation includes
seeds, cuttings,
and transplants. Every
MG should own a copy if
you are interested in
natives and how to grow
them. |
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And by the way, buy
yourself a copy of Roy
Bedicheck’s book,
Adventures with a Texas
Naturalist (University
of Texas Press, 1975)
Every Texan should own a
copy. |
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