Field Book of Western Wild Flowers

In 1911, Margaret Armstrong became one of the first women to descend to the floor of the Grand Canyon, where she discovered flower species unknown to science and began a years-long journey across the American West to document its botanical treasures. This 1915 field guide represents the first comprehensive handbook to the wildflowers west of the Rockies, covering seventy-five plant families from the water-plantain to the cactus, each entry rendered with Armstrong's exquisite line drawings and detailed observations on height, color, habitat, and seasonal blooming. Written in collaboration with Professor Thornber of the University of Arizona, the book bridges popular curiosity and scientific rigor, making the region's floral abundance accessible to amateur enthusiasts and serious botanists alike. Armstrong brings a designer's eye to every plate and a traveler's passion to every description, capturing not just botanical facts but the sheer wonder of encountering desert poppies, mountain avens, and Sierra lilies in their native landscapes. A century later, the book endures as both a scientific artifact and a gorgeous piece of natural-history publishing, perfect for anyone who wants to know what they're looking at when they wander through the western wilds.