The Nature of Texas

The opportunities for enriching nature study are endless in Texas, where 5,000 plant species grow, and numerous iconic animals like Mexican Free-tailed Bat, Nine-banded Armadillo, Black Bear, Texas Horned Lizard, Whooping Crane, and Green Jay can be found. Our beautifully illustrated field guide serves as an introduction to the natural history of the Lone Star State and includes the stirring essay by James C. Rettie, who worked for the National Forest Service in 1948. Rettie masterfully used the statistics from an existing government pamphlet on soil erosion to craft an illuminating analogy that implores us to appreciate the fleeting time and fragile state of the natural world. Rettie's elegant words set the tone for a guide that features 350 common plants and animals, nine maps depicting major wildlife-viewing areas and parks throughout the state, as well as full checklists and indices for educators, learners, naturalists, birders, botanists, and wildlife enthusiasts to document their sightings of flora and fauna in Texas. Made in the USA.