Recommended Reading

A gorgeous picture book based on the true story of a scientist who solves the mysteries of monarch butterfly migration—with the help of schoolchildren! A perfect story for nature lovers […]

Identifies 100 of the most conspicuous wildflower species native to Texas, keyed to the regions where each may be found. Photos by members of the Native Plant Society of Texas.

Living in the country in Texas can be the most enjoyable experience of your life, but managing rural property is not the same as taking care of a half-acre suburban […]

A Field Guide to Common South Texas Shrubs” is a plant identification field guide designed to assist landowners, managers, and hunters identify selected woody plants and cacti that are important […]

This guide, covering 1,505 species of wildflowers, groups flowers by color and plant characteristics for easy matching of pictures with specimens. With descriptions facing the more than 1,500 illustrations, all […]

This book provides a comprehensive guide to identifying trees in Texas. It includes detailed descriptions of over 200 species of trees, as well as illustrations and photographs to aid in […]

This book provides the latest information on how to organize and enact prevention programs, build strategies, implement integrated procedures for management, and proceed towards site rehabilitation and restoration. The book […]

A Natural History of Empty Lots is a genre-defying work of nature writing, literary nonfiction, and memoir that explores what happens when nature and the city intersect. During the real […]

In this guide, biologist Mark Gustafson introduces residents and visitors to the history, geology, water resources, plants, and animals found in the nineteen counties occupying the eastern part of the […]

Includes 200 of the most common grasses, flowering plants, vines, cacti, and woody plants of the South Texas Sand sheet. Part of Perspectives on South Texas, a 12-book series sponsored […]

“A Sand County Almanac with Other Essays on Conservation from Round River” is a book written by Aldo Leopold, first published in 1949. The book is a collection of essays […]

This book provides information on the cultivation and gardening uses of agave and yucca, as well as several other American genera in the family Agavaceae, with discussion of their cultivation […]

This is a comprehensive guide to the aquatic and wetland plants of the Gulf Coast from New Orleans to Brownsville, including all of the Texas coast. The book is authored […]

This book is a comprehensive guide to the natural and cultural history of Aransas National Wildlife Refuge, located on the Texas Gulf Coast. The book offers a detailed overview of […]

This is the first atlas of the Texas flora ever and provides distributional information for about 6000 taxa of vascular plants native and naturalized in the state of Texas. The […]

This is the first atlas of the Texas flora ever and provides distributional information for about 6000 taxa of vascular plants native and naturalized in the state of Texas. The […]

The handy book is divided into three main sections. First, you’ll learn all about hummingbirds: facts, range, habitat, songs, nests, and more. Up next, you’ll be introduced to the feeding […]

With its unique climate, soil, and a longer growing season, the South gives its gardeners singular opportunity to combine the two most popular outdoor activities in the US: gardening and […]

This book shows homeowners how to fill their yards and gardens with the sights and sounds of nature. Author David Mizejewski presents simple plans for reintroducing native plants that birds, […]

This book is by The Xerces Society, an international nonprofit organization that is leading the way in pollinator conservation. The book provides a thorough overview of the problem along with […]

The author’s compelling personal journey confirming the urgency of supporting the 2-way migration of monarch butterflies. View an interview with the author on Central Texas Gardener here.

This book is a call to arms for gardeners who are searching for a better way to plant, maintain, and enjoy their gardens. The author argues that traditional landscaping practices […]

This book is a field guide published by Texas A&M Agrilife Extension Service that helps landowners and rangeland managers identify the brush and weed species of greatest concern in their […]

This book presents the concept of nature’s envelope, showing not only how construction can be managed in harmony with it, but also how homeowners and builders can save money while […]

This book is a comprehensive guide to the bumble bees of North America. The book provides detailed information on the identification, distribution, ecology, and conservation of all 46 bumble bee […]

This book is a comprehensive guide to the butterflies of Houston and Southeast Texas. It covers more than 200 species of butterflies, including their life stages, habitat, and adult nectar […]

This book is a field guide to the butterflies of Western North America. The book offers a comprehensive display of all the magnificent butterflies of the western region, stretching from […]

“Butterfly Gardening for Texas” is a book written by Geyata Ajilvsgi, an expert on plant and butterfly species in Texas. The book provides practical information about all kinds of butterflies […]

Information on creating an “instant” butterfly garden, growing pollinator-friendly native plants, how to photograph butterflies, and more.

This is a field guide that provides an illustrated overview of the cacti found in Texas and surrounding states. The guide covers over 100 species of cacti, including the ten […]

This book is a field guide that provides a comprehensive overview of native prairie plants at various stages of growth. The guide is authored by the USDA-NRCS Elsberry Plant Materials […]

Detailed descriptions and line drawings help identify 140 economically important grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, and trees on Texas rangelands, as well as the benefit of each to wildlife.

This book is a field guide that provides an illustrated overview of the most significant common grasses growing in Texas. The guide contains a key to updated names of grasses, […]

This book is a comprehensive guide for gardeners and “yardeners” in Texas. The book provides detailed information on flowers, garden design, trees, shrubs, and vines, as well as vegetable, herb, […]

This book is a collection of eight studies of the Edwards Plateau originally presented at a symposium sponsored by the Southwestern Association of Naturalists. The aim of the book is […]

This book describes Texas as it was when European explorers arrived, shares the impressions of early travelers, and explains how the prairies have changed.

The book covers 172 species of grasses and contains range maps and color images of the inflorescences and spikelets of each species along with detailed, black-and-white illustrations found in the […]

“Field Guide to the Broad-Leaved Herbaceous Plants of South Texas: Used by Livestock and Wildlife” is a comprehensive guide to the most significant common grasses growing in Texas. The book […]

Taxonomic treatments of 2343 flowering plant species,120 sub-specific taxa, with botanical information.

This is a book authored by Rowan Jacobsen that discusses the disappearance of the world’s honeybee population and how it puts the food we eat at risk.