Books about Botanical from Amazon.com

As a young boy growing up in Wisconsin, John Muir faithfully recorded in his journal that the pasque-flower was a hopeful multitude of large, hairy, silky buds about as thick as one s thumb and that lady s slipper orchid in nearby meadows caught the eye of all the European settlers and made them gaze and wonder like children. Muir was blessed early on with a love and aptitude for botany, a field of study that helped him become one of the most influential environmentalists in the world. One realizes, in reading Nature s Beloved Son, how much Muir s successes as adventurer, writer, and environmental advocate were driven by his belief in nature s irresistible, divine beauty. Surprisingly, however, little has been written about John Muir the botanist. Environmental historian Bonnie J. Gisel takes us through Muir s evolving relationship with the natural world, touching on his childhood in Scotland and Wisconsin, his sojourn in Canada, his thousand-mile walk from Louisville, Kentucky, to the Gulf of Mexico, his ecstatic travels in California s Sierra Nevada, and his thrilling exploration of Alaska. Photographer Stephen J. Joseph s breathtaking prints of Muir s botanical specimens and related correspondence are artfully presented in this book and provide the backdrop for the story of Muir s inordinate fondness for plants. With the help of major foundations and generous individuals, Heyday has produced a book of superlative beauty with the highest of printing and design standards, a book worthy of Muir s great spirit and the ineffable beauty of the plant world..
Price: $25.70 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Award-winning artist Sylvia Long and author Dianna Hutts Aston have teamed up again to create this gorgeous and informative introduction to seeds. Poetic in voice and elegant in design, the book introduces children to a fascinating array of seed and plant facts, making it a guide that is equally at home being read on a parent's lap as in a classroom reading circle..
Price: $5.60 [Notify me when price goes down.]

This is simply the best and most complete course in botanical illustration ever produced, with each chapter a perfectly constructed and self-contained class. Created in conjunction with the internationally renowned Eden Project—home of the only jungle in captivity—it’s put together by two leading figures in the Project’s famed art school, and uses many beautiful works from its students. Artists and plant lovers will find a wealth of practical information, with easy-to-follow exercises and case studies. The priceless advice encompasses everything from honing observational skills and plant dissection procedures to color mixing and applying watercolor. Adding highlights, producing a pleasing composition, and developing a personal style—all the building blocks for achieving excellence are here.
 

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Price: $3.20 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Provides and overview of the origins, history and relevance of botanical illustration..
Price: $30.98 [Notify me when price goes down.]

"The hundreds of orchid genera and thousands of species can seem unbelievably complex, but they are beautiful, mysterious, and alluring Therefore we want reliable ways in which to refer to them--ways that will be understood by those who hear us or read our written communications about these plants. The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Illustrated Dictionary of Orchid Genera will become a convenient reference for those many people who are fascinated by orchids. By referring to this guide, one can find a secure mooring for any species of orchid, one that makes it possible to understand its relatives and its place in the galaxy of orchid variation."--from the Foreword by Peter H. Raven

The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Illustrated Dictionary of Orchid Genera is the most comprehensive and extensively illustrated account of orchid genera to date. Its concise entries provide details of nomenclature, classification, original publication, etymology, and geographic range, along with a brief description and color images of representative flowers.

The dictionary describes not only all of the 850 orchid genera that are recognized today but also those genera known only from fossil records, published before Linnaeus, validly published (but not accepted), and invalidly published according to the standards of the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature, as well as those that have variant names or spellings. In addition to the alphabetic entries, this dictionary includes an introduction to orchid biology, a glossary, a list of taxonomists credited with publishing new orchid genera, key references and bibliographical abbreviation list, and the governing nomenclature rules. The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens Illustrated Dictionary of Orchid Genera also features a Foreword by Peter H. Raven and an Introduction on the biology of orchids by David Benzing that describes the August 2007 discovery of the world's oldest unequivically orchidaceous fossil.

The Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota, Florida, are extensive botanical gardens dedicated to research and collections of epiphytes, especially orchids and bromeliads, and their canopy ecosystems. The Gardens maintain the most diverse collection of bromeliads in the world and feature over 20,000 plants from some 6,000 species in 1,200 genera from 214 plant families, including 6,000 live orchids. This monumental work is yet another manifestation of the collection-an extension of the Gardens into print..
Price: $31.00 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Flowers are an ideal subject for painters They can be chosen to suit one's mood and arranged however desired Even a garden of modest size can offer a profusion of subject matter. And watercolor is the ideal medium for painting flowers. This unique watercolor artist's guide offers easy to follow, plant specific information on how to paint over 50 of the most popular flower species. Along with step by step photographs, details and instructions for capturing the essence of each flower, the book includes information on the appropriate techniques and color mixes to use..
Price: $18.08 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Soon Y. Warren reveals her techniques for painting bold, intense florals. The featured artwork takes the glowing, light-drenched scenes watercolor is known for and elevates them to another level. Here, readers will find: secrets for intensifying color, such as applying yellow underpainting to create a warm glow; popular flower subjects, such as roses, lilies, irises and peonies; techniques for conveying mood using color, contrasts and setting; and a warm and inviting instructional voice. Best of all, artists can't resist the robust, luminous quality of the author's paintings and want to know how she does it..
Price: $14.62 [Notify me when price goes down.]