 xseption wrote: | |
Rich:
Lots of good info in the book. I am having some trouble matching up the text with the maps. It did help using a state map and Google maps to give your maps some context.
I was wondering about the purpose of the inclusion of the "coloring pages" in the book. Can you give a little insight about this?
I would have liked to have seen a photograph of a "prime" location of a bluebonnet heaven given the descriptions of the best environment for bluebonnets. In fact, some photographs of the routes or locations may provide some benefit/incentive as well, such as a photo of "Prarie Mountain Schoolhouse" as described in the text, page 63.
I will be following your book to Cuero and Brenham next week, possibly to Lavernia-Floresville as well. I may also take a side trip to the coast. Hopefully, I will have some photos to share as well as a better understanding of the benefits of using Hunting Texas Wildflowers.
thanks!
edd
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Edd,
Hunting Texas Wildflowers is not a "road map." It does contain "wildflower route maps." You need to use the book in conjunction with a road map. A Texas road map will give the context. I point this out on page 27 and 41. I personally use county maps to help me locate "new routes" each year.
Hunting Texas Wildflowers is more of a training manual to help you learn how to find wildflowers (see pages 12-36).
Read pages 12-36 to get an understanding of the process of how to find wildflowers. In good years, it is much easier to locate good displays of wildflowers, but this year it is going to be so much harder due to the lack of rain. I want to "equip" you the reader with the what, where and how of finding wildflowers....even if you did not have a "route map."
For the casual wildflower enthusiasts they can merely pick a location near where they live and follow the routes in the Wildflower Hunting Locations section.
Pages 38-90 are Wildflower Hunting Locations. In the past 5 years, I have personally visited over 95% of those locations. The few locations I have not visited, I have received information from people I consider to be "experts" in wildflower hunting.
So, if you are planning to visit Cuero then first locate "Cuero" on a Texas road map then turn to page 82 and study the Cuero section. On page 84 and 85 are the wildflower route maps for the Cuero area. These are routes that I traveled when I visited Cuero. I only list routes that I have either personally verified or have "expert" information about the route. I always recommend that you stop in at the local Chamber of Commerce or other agency to get the "local conditions" and their route maps.
In the routes section of the Cuero area, I point out routes that I have traveled and what I found when I traveled that route. Special spots are highlighted with a "flower." Read through my notes and pick out some routes that you might like to travel. No one can predict where the best wildflower displays will be, but there are tricks to finding good displays. I have done it year after year when we have had at least normal conditions. What you get in the book is the benefit of the thousands of miles and hours I have spent actually visiting these places and documenting what I found.
As to the photos...see pages 39-40 for sample photos taken from the hunting locations. The bottom photo on page 39 was taken in Mason County where I found "bluebonnet heaven." I would love to put more of my photos in the book, but it is a factor of cost. If the public is willing to pay $39.95 for the book then I could do that. What I have done is provide this website with trip report galleries and my Texas Wildflower Report galleries where you can see photos from my trips (and here you get to see some from others too).
You can view a photo of "Prarie Mountain Schoolhouse" here
http://www.pbase.com/richo/image/15221613
I am working on an "eBook" supplement to Hunting Texas Wildflowers that will contain images like you are requesting. Right now, check the trip report galleries here and my Texas Wildflower Report galleries.
I also provide my seedling reports and my Fall-Winter report to help give you, the "wildflower hunter", as much information to help you plan your route.
As to the coloring pages...they are for the kids to photocopy and color! It was also a way I could put a few more pages with an image of a wildflower without incurring the extra cost of a color page which would have raised the retail price of the book. :)
RichO
Hunting Texas Wildflowers
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