Sierra Wildflowers

John (Jack) Muir Laws is a principal leader and innovator of the worldwide nature journaling movement. Jack is a scientist, educator, and author, who helps people forge a deeper and more personal connection with nature through keeping illustrated nature journals and understanding science. His work intersects science, art, and mindfulness. Trained as a wildlife biologist and an associate of the California Academy of Sciences, he observes the world with rigorous attention. He looks for mysteries, plays with ideas, and seeks connections in all he sees. Attention, observation, curiosity, and creative thinking are not gifts, but skills that grow with training and deliberate practice. As an educator and author, Jack teaches techniques and supports routines that develop these skills to make them a part of everyday life.Laws has written and illustrated several books including How to Teach Nature Drawing and Journaling (2020), The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling (2016), The Laws Guide to Drawing Birds (2012), Sierra Birds: a Hiker’s Guide (2004), The Laws Guide to the Sierra Nevada (2007), and The Laws Pocket Guide Set to the San Francisco Bay Area (2009), all published by Heyday. He is a regular contributor to Bay Nature magazine with his “Naturalists Notebook” column.

• ForewordAcknowledgments Key to WildflowersWhite-Cream FlowersWhite Flower KeyOrchids and FungiDoctrine of SignaturesSquare Stems and Opposite Leaves: Mint FamilyPoison PetalsIrregular Flowers: Pea FamilySmall White Flowers in ClumpsSmall White Flowers Forming an Umbrella (Umbel)Ancient Greek MedicineBiological WarfareBeautiful GrassFlowers Under a Magnifying GlassLethal GenesHawkmoth PollinationTube- or Cone-Shaped FlowersNectar GuidesOpposite LeavesFlower PerfumeSticky TrapsFlower OvariesTurn Over a New LeafA Wildflower Loved by John MuirPlant and Fungus ParasitesCompound Leaves (Composed of Multiple Leaflets)Glandular HairsA Sweet RewardBulbs in a Short Growing SeasonMonocots vs. DicotsLewis and Clark Species NamesRed-Pink FlowersRed-Pink Flower KeyMonkeyflower Pollination StrategiesHummingbird FlowersPaintbrush and Owl's CloverRed Flowers with Dense HeadsCushion PlantsAfter the BurnPicking FlowersShooting Star PollinationNectar ThievesColor Change and PollinationPlants Without ChlorophyllOrchid SeedsEdible and UsefulMilkweed Poison and Insect RelationshipsSeed PodsPlants with Variable Numbers of PetalsOrange FlowersOrange Flower KeyGolden Poppies?Unrolling FlowersHover PollinationYellow FlowersYellow Flower KeyFlower PuzzlesPollen TrapsViolets' Back-Up PlanPeasYellow Tufted FlowersButterfly FoodLate Summer ColorA Threat to California's GrasslandsPollen StringsChange with ElevationUnlikely Insect TrapCinquefoil (pronounced sink-foil)Little FrogsWater StorageGround NutsLily Pad HomesBig Yellow SunflowersDifficulty Identifying Arnica? Relax, It's Not You ...Plenty of PollenGoldenrod vs. GroundselSummer DroughtDandelion-Like FlowersGrowing TogetherGreen FlowersGrowing TogetherBlue-Purple FlowersBlue-Purple Flower KeyAlternate Leaves, Deadly BeautyAlternate Leaves, Larkspur Grazing DefensesAlternate Leaves, Indian PaintbrushNarrow Palmately Compound Leaves: LupineBroad Palmately Compound Leaves: LupineSmall Palmately Compound Leaves: LupinePinnately Compound LeavesOpposite Leaves, Tubular FlowersOpposite Leaves, Flowers SpreadingOpposite Leaves, Flowers Spreading with Minty SmellDense Heads of Small FlowersFooling with Fungus FliesInsect-Eating PlantsUltraviolet PatternsCorkscrew SeedsAn Identification ChallengeFlower ClustersIndex