Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast
 Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon
 (Reviewed by The Editor - Rebecca Brown)
 1994 Lone Pine Pub, Redmond WA USA
  ISBN: 1551050404


An easy-to-use field guide featuring 794 species of flora commonly found from Oregon to Alaska, including trees, shrubs, wildflowers, aquatics, grasses, ferns, mosses & lichens. From shoreline to alpine, including the Olympics & the western Cascades.

This is one of those books that travel with us wherever we drive; it is filled with bookmarks & I've scribbled observations whenever I've seen something new to add to Messrs. Pojar & MacKinnon's awesome efforts. Naturally they alone did not compile Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast & it is an impressive effort of a large collection of dedicated people.

It is always, always gratifying to become fluent in recognizing the trees that make up the forests & tree farms; in defining shrubbery & locating edibles; in noticing habitats & thus where to look for the splendid assortment of flowers, grasses, ferns & mosses. There are two times a year when the lichen positively glow & we've been known to stop, bring out this book & start naming. It is to be noted that this erudite crew declined to include the mushroom population, may I recommend both Mushrooms of Northwest North America by Helene Schalkwijk-Barendsen or All That the Rain Promises, and More... by David Arora[also reviewed].

Why is it so important to be able to name & identify the flora of any given place? Perhaps we need to return to Adam's side & venture that question. I know that once I've identified plants, there is satisfaction in remaining alert to their locations, their scents & beauty. They are the companions of our lives; they clean the air we breath, add to the thin layer of duff out of which all this wonder grows. After a storm we become vividly aware of just how thin this layer is when great tall conifers topple & their root disks, often ten to fifteen feet in diameter & no more than 18 inches deep, stand perpendicular to the ground.

Each entry in this semi-waterproof book is clear & legible. General description; Leaves; Flowers; Fruits; Ecology followed by Notes which often list kin, original uses & names. What this book has done for me is given detail to the multi-hued greens that surround me & allowed me to know what was before, simply countryside. I especially like the way the data is organized into bright colored family sections.

If you read the small print on the copyright page you'll see that this book was part of a $200 million funding project from the British Columbia Ministry of Forest, Canada. When you look at the list of people who made available all the photos, drawings, botanical, historical & geographical data, you begin to understand. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast is a must if you want to really see who resides in this fabulous part of the world. Very well done!
(05/30/99)

Rebecca