Newcomb's Wildflower Guide by Lawrence Newcomb
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Book Reviews of Newcomb's Wildflower Guide
Book Review: Book review
Summary: 5 Stars
Needed the book to take a class on identifing wild flowers, in march & April. hope to let you know better then.Book Review: Very Useful
Summary: 4 Stars
In the past, I found field guides to wildflowers very frustrating. I have both A Field Guide to Wildflowers : Northeastern and North-Central North America (Peterson Field Guides)and a Golden Wildflower guide. Because the aforementioned are organized by color first, one has to painstakingly search though all of the illustrations until a probable match is found. This is time consuming, and for me, very difficult, leading to many misidentifications.
Newcomb's Wildflower guide takes a different approach. Created for the non botanist, it begins with flower shape, then leaf location, then leaf shape, until you have a 3 digit numeric key. Next by looking under this key for more detail, you are directed to the right page(s). For me this is wonderful, it takes a little practice, but once you get the hang of it, you find the correct illustration and description quickly without having to page though a multitude of pink or blue or white, etc. flowers.
Admittedly, this system is not for everyone. Many people may like starting with color, but for me this guide is truly useful in the field.
Book Review: Fairly easy to use
Summary: 4 Stars
This is my first guide to wildflowers, and since I've picked it up I find it is a practical guide for looking at the specific flower. I am a beginner, but I can tell you that the illustrations are a big help and the three key system seems to make more sense for identification than starting with flower color. I have only taken this book out a couple of times on my bike rides, but I look forward to more extensive use with guides and by myself on hikes in the near future.Book Review: It has gotten outdated
Summary: 4 Stars
After 22 years, plant nomenclature has changed for many plants (such as asters). It would be wonderful if someone would update this book. Otherwise I like it because it includes quite a few species of a given genus, such as goldenrods. It also includes many less common plants. Many of the line drawings are detailed enough, others not so much. I like the key but I agree that it is limiting when you first have to know the color of the flower.Book Review: Great guide for beginners and advanced
Summary: 4 Stars
Overall a great book if you are interested in wildflower identification. I wish there were more pictures. Once you learn the coding, it is easy to narrow what you are looking for. I tried identifying a a flower that I already new by using the coding and was able to go directly to it. Using it to identify others you don't know takes a little practice, but it cuts your search time way down.