The Tallgrass Prairie
An Introduction
by Cindy Crosby
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Pub Date 20 Apr 2017 | Archive Date 20 Feb 2017
Description
More than a region on a map, North America's vast grasslands are an enduring place in the American heart. Unfolding along and beyond the Mississippi River, the tallgrass prairie has entranced and inspired its natives and newcomers as well as American artists and writers from Willa Cather to Mark Twain. The Tallgrass Prairie is a new introduction to the astonishing beauty and biodiversity of these iconic American spaces.
Like a walking tour with a literate friend and expert, Cindy Crosby's Tallgrass Prairie prepares travelers and armchair travelers for an adventure in the tallgrass. Crosby's engaging gateway assumes no prior knowledge of tallgrass landscapes, and she acquaints readers with the native plants they’ll discover there. She demystifies botanic plant names and offers engaging mnemonic tips for mastering Latin names with verve and confidence. Visitors to the prairie will learn to identify native plants using the five senses to discover what makes each plant unique or memorable. In the summer, for example, the unusual square stem of cup plant, Silphium perfoliatum, sets it apart from its neighbors. And its distinctive leaf cups water after the rain.
A gifted raconteur, Crosby tells stories about how humankind has adopted the prairie as a grocery, an apothecary, and even as a shop for love charms. Rounding out this exceptional introduction are suggestions for experiencing the American prairie, including journaling techniques and sensory experiences, tips for preparing for a hike in tallgrass landscapes, ways to integrate native prairie plants into home landscapes (without upsetting the neighbors), and a wealth of resources for further exploration.
An instant classic in the tradition of American naturalist writing, The Tallgrass Prairie will delight not only scholars and policy makers, but guests to tallgrass prairie preserves, outdoors enthusiasts and gardeners, and readers interested in American ecosystems and native plants.
Like a walking tour with a literate friend and expert, Cindy Crosby's Tallgrass Prairie prepares travelers and armchair travelers for an adventure in the tallgrass. Crosby's engaging gateway assumes no prior knowledge of tallgrass landscapes, and she acquaints readers with the native plants they’ll discover there. She demystifies botanic plant names and offers engaging mnemonic tips for mastering Latin names with verve and confidence. Visitors to the prairie will learn to identify native plants using the five senses to discover what makes each plant unique or memorable. In the summer, for example, the unusual square stem of cup plant, Silphium perfoliatum, sets it apart from its neighbors. And its distinctive leaf cups water after the rain.
A gifted raconteur, Crosby tells stories about how humankind has adopted the prairie as a grocery, an apothecary, and even as a shop for love charms. Rounding out this exceptional introduction are suggestions for experiencing the American prairie, including journaling techniques and sensory experiences, tips for preparing for a hike in tallgrass landscapes, ways to integrate native prairie plants into home landscapes (without upsetting the neighbors), and a wealth of resources for further exploration.
An instant classic in the tradition of American naturalist writing, The Tallgrass Prairie will delight not only scholars and policy makers, but guests to tallgrass prairie preserves, outdoors enthusiasts and gardeners, and readers interested in American ecosystems and native plants.
Advance Praise
“We desperately need ambassadors to help us reach those who haven’t yet been introduced to prairies and the many remarkable organisms who live in them. Cindy Crosby is just such an ambassador, and her The Tallgrass Prairie: An Introduction should help grow the legion of dedicated land stewards and supporters of our native grasslands.”
—Chris Helzer, author of The Prairie Ecologist blog and director of science, Nebraska program, The Nature Conservancy
“For years, I have waited for a book like this! Here, at last, is a beautifully written, informative and personally engaging introduction for those who are just discovering the beauty of the prairies. Like the tallgrass itself, these pages are full of marvels that engage, at once, the intellect, the senses, and the collective capacity for wonder. It is truly a gift to us all.”
—John T. Price, author of Daddy Long Legs: The Natural Education of a Father and editor of The Tallgrass Prairie Reader
“Cindy Crosby is extremely knowledgeable about the prairie, and she also adores it. She is not only a skilled naturalist but also a sensitive writer. This unique combination gives The Tallgrass Prairie: An Introduction a powerful language that is both direct and lyrical, full of insightful practical advice, engaging storytelling, aesthetic splendor, and even spiritual inspiration.”
—Thomas Dean, senior presidential writer/editor and adjunct assistant professor at the University of Iowa, editor of The Grace of Grass and Water, and author of Under a Midland Sky
"Both timeless and timely, The Tallgrass Prairie is an excellent gateway into the field of tallgrass prairie conservation, restoration, and appreciation. It’s a 'call to arms' to value and protect prairie ecosystems."
—Emily Yates, Chicago Botanic Garden
—Chris Helzer, author of The Prairie Ecologist blog and director of science, Nebraska program, The Nature Conservancy
“For years, I have waited for a book like this! Here, at last, is a beautifully written, informative and personally engaging introduction for those who are just discovering the beauty of the prairies. Like the tallgrass itself, these pages are full of marvels that engage, at once, the intellect, the senses, and the collective capacity for wonder. It is truly a gift to us all.”
—John T. Price, author of Daddy Long Legs: The Natural Education of a Father and editor of The Tallgrass Prairie Reader
“Cindy Crosby is extremely knowledgeable about the prairie, and she also adores it. She is not only a skilled naturalist but also a sensitive writer. This unique combination gives The Tallgrass Prairie: An Introduction a powerful language that is both direct and lyrical, full of insightful practical advice, engaging storytelling, aesthetic splendor, and even spiritual inspiration.”
—Thomas Dean, senior presidential writer/editor and adjunct assistant professor at the University of Iowa, editor of The Grace of Grass and Water, and author of Under a Midland Sky
"Both timeless and timely, The Tallgrass Prairie is an excellent gateway into the field of tallgrass prairie conservation, restoration, and appreciation. It’s a 'call to arms' to value and protect prairie ecosystems."
—Emily Yates, Chicago Botanic Garden
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9780810135475 |
| PRICE | US$19.95 (USD) |
| PAGES | 144 |
Featured Reviews
Diana T, Reviewer
Book received from NetGalley.
This book is part botany, part conservation cry and part history of the prairie. I thought it was a great introduction to a subject many people didn't know about. The prairies of Illinois have a place in my heart I spent as much time on them while growing up as I did in my home state. After reading this book I have realized that I know very little about them and basically took them for granted. The Tallgrass prairies are an endangered ecology due to the fact that we have changed them considerably to grow quite a bit of our foodstuffs on them. It is a good thing that places such as where the author of the book works does their best to reseed areas of it to try to keep the ecology going. I learned quite a bit from this short book and will be looking into some of the suggested reading that they have in the back of it.
