Once, all barrier islands were natural places where sand dunes and sea grasses, water birds and beach creatures flourished, undisturbed by human development. Matagorda Island still is. Part of a chain of five major barrier islands that shelter the Texas coastline from the Gulf of Mexico, Matagorda Island is the only one completely under public ownership the only one with a fate entirely in the hands of the people.This guide to the island seeks to acquaint first-time visitors and seasoned naturalists alike with the natural wealth and ecological fragility of Matagorda. In chapters on geology, history, ecology, vegetation, mammals, birds, herptiles, fish, and invertebrates, the authors show how the island is a living ecosystem, where every plant, animal, and sand dune has a role to play in maintaining the balance of nature.
Univ of Texas Pr
|
9780292751507
|
Hardcover
The Explorers' Texas
By Weniger, Del
First edition. Second printing. 1997
Eakin Pr; 1st edition
|
9781571681003
|
Hardcover
The Tree Book
By Dk,
The secret world of trees is revealed in this beautiful and absorbing guide to the giants of the plant world. Trees occur naturally throughout the world and have been a part of human history almost as long as humans have existed. Used for shelter, tools, fuel, and food, they also help supply the atmosphere with oxygen and form astonishingly diverse ecosystems, as well as some of the world's most beautiful landscapes. Now the intricate world of leafy woodlands and abundant rainforests is revealed in this extensive visual guide to trees, exploring their key scientific traits and their ecological importance, as well as their enduring significance in human history and culture. From ancient oaks and great redwoods to lush banyans and imposing kapoks, The Tree Book reveals the anatomy, behaviors, and beauty of these incredible plants and habitats in detail.
DK
|
9780744027464
|
Hardcover
Reader's Digest North American wildlife.
By Association., Reader's Digest
A colorful, illustrated identification guide provides general information on each species, including behavior patterns, diet, and dominant physical characteristics, as well as individual profiles and tips on locating and approaching each animal. Original.
Reader's Digest
|
9780762100354
|
Paperback
The Vanishing Cowboy
By Bertoglio, Jim
Have you ever dreamed of being a cowboy? Who of us hasn't? The mere mention of it brings to mind images of boots and saddles, horses and cattle, and being in the great outdoors. This much is true, cowboy stories never cease to hold our attention, and The Vanishing Cowboy is an especially captivating narrative. Weaving a historical text with contemporary photographs taken on location at some of the largest and last-remaining working ranches in the United States, The Vanishing Cowboy is an informative and appealing look at one of America's most iconic figures. But for all his popularity, has the cowboy's time passed? Threatened by urbanization and industrialization, will this folk hero endure the test of time, or is he headed for the sunset?
Tate Publishing
|
9781633675889
|
Hardcover
The Border Collie
By Burch, Mary R
Books for novice pet owners that combine the most breed-specific information with loads of helpful tips and superb color photos. These are the books pet owners can turn to for the essential information they need to raise a four-footed family member. There are chapters on-- feeding-- grooming-- housing-- health care-- what to expect from the pet-- basic training-- teaching tricks-- getting active with your pet in the communityThe emphasis is on making your pet your friend, and the instruction is from experts, people who not only know the breed of the pet intimately, but remember what it was like to have one for the first time. People like the internationally renowned behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar, who wrote the chapter on training. People who've coached novice owners through the joys -- and frustrations -- of pet ownership and who know the consequences of no advice or bad advice, on the owner and the pet.
Howell Book House
|
9780876054925
|
Hardcover
The Sugar Season
By Whynott, Douglas
A year in the life of one New England family as they work to preserve an ancient, lucrative, and threatened agricultural art--the sweetest harvest, maple syrup . . .
How has one of Americas oldest agricultural crafts evolved from a quaint enterprise with "sugar parties" and the delicacy "sugar on snow" to a modern industry?
At a sugarhouse owned by maple syrup entrepreneur Bruce Bascom, 80,000 gallons of sap are processed daily during winters end. In The Sugar Season, Douglas Whynott follows Bascom through one tumultuous season, taking us deep into the sugarbush, where sunlight and sap are intimately related and the sound of the taps gives the woods a rhythm and a ring. Along the way, he reveals the inner workings of the multimillion-dollar maple sugar industry. Make no mistake, its big business -- complete with a Maple Hall of Fame, a black market, a major syrup heist monitored by Homeland Security, a Canadian organization called The Federation, and a Global Strategic Reserve thats comparable to OPEC (fitting, since a barrel of maple syrup is worth more than a barrel of oil) .
Whynott brings us to sugarhouses, were we learn the myriad subtle flavors of syrup and how its assigned a grade. He examines the unusual biology of the maple tree that makes syrup possible and explores the maples -- and the industrys -- chances for survival, highlighting a hot-button issue: how global warming is threatening our food supply. Experts predict that, by the end of this century, maple syrup production in the United States may suffer a drastic decline.
As buckets and wooden spouts give way to vacuum pumps and tubing, we see that even the best technology cant overcome warm nights in the middle of a season--and that only determined men like Bascom can continue to make a sweet like off of rugged land. Read more Continue reading Read less REVIEW
What began as a curious search to uncover the mechanics and marketing of maple syrup turns, in his calm telling, into a case study of how venerable family enterprises deal with an uncertain future Parts of this tale recall John McPhees fact-laden reports about our earth and those who seek to comprehend its hidden components."
Winnipeg Free Press, 3/1/14
There are many flavours in this affectionate look at the maple-syrup industry in the United States, along with a light taste of the Canadian flow The Sugar Season includes nostalgia, family histories, business competition, technological development, the free-market approach of the U.S. (compared to the marketing-board approach of Quebec) and, as a disturbing subtext, environmental concern The Sugar Season does a good job of taking us from the days of tin buckets and wooden spouts to vacuum pumps and tubing, also providing readers with a look to the future [Whynott] makes you pause and appreciate a nibble on a maple leaf sugar candy."
Saveur, 3/6/14
A closely observed portrait of a largely unknown worldone that is full of interesting characters who have devoted their lives to transforming an intensely seasonal crop into a global commodity its a smart, engrossing read that gives this sweet cropone of Americas oldest agricultural productsits full due."
Whynott examines both the complicated past of the maple syrup industry and questions about its future In a world where one barrel of syrup is worth more than a barrel of oil, Whynotts descriptions of black market dealings and syrup heists highlight the value of this sweet crop Balancing the global history of the maple syrup trade with its local impact, The Sugar Season immerses readers in a reading experience both historical and personal in nature."
Publishers Weekly, 2/21/2014
This inside look at the ups and downs of the maple syrup industry over its year-long harvesting and production cycle will be fascinating to anyone interested in the modern food industry, the effect of global warming on agriculture, and just how that sweet syrup got from a stand of sugar maples to the breakfast table Enlightening and alarming."
Minneapolis Star Tribune, 3/9/14
Tells the story of the annual sap run, when the cycle of warming daytime temperatures and nighttime freezes triggers the movement of sap in the sugar maples. Despite growth and technological advances, it remains such an elemental storyof trees and their biology, of children working alongside grandparents, of steam and sparks in the sugar house in the overnight boiling down of the sap Lyrical history, geography and insights into family life centered around a demanding business."
Beverly Citizen, 3/15/14
[A] fascinating exploration of the maple syrup industry Part business case study and part John McPhee nonfiction adventure into the depths of a subjectas told by a host of driven, devoted and talented characters. Whynotts comprehensive lay of the land includes climate change, the transformation of syrup production into a bankable industry, the interdependent community of syrup makers, the forests and their health, the process of making syrup and the complexity of the syrup itself."
Easthampton Valley Advocate (Ma) , 3/13/14
Shows the business of maple sugaring as a sophisticated, complex industry, subject, like all industries, to market forces and circumstances beyond producers control."
Toronto Globe and Mail, 3/22/14
Provides keen insights into this particular branch of modern agriculture, and makes a strong case for maple syrup as a bellwether for the continents environmental health."
The Writer, May 2014
An in-depth contemplation of the maple syrup industry."
Boston Globe, 3/5/14
A wide-ranging look inside the maple syrup business Whynott skillfully explains how maple syrup gets made, how vitally important weather is, and how global warming may threaten the industrys future Whynotts engaging book offers a skillful and fascinating peek behind the curtain of one of the regions oldest and most beloved traditional industries
Da Capo Press,
|
9780306822049
|
Hardcover
Shattered Spring 1927
By Perkins, Barbara
April 12, 1927, a low-pressure system was moving across the Edwards Plateau of Texas. A blustery, gritty wind had been blowing all day and the townspeople were expecting rain. Three miles northwest of town, a monster tornado descended from the clouds. It took direct aim at Rocksprings, population 800. The first warning the townspeople had was the thunderous hail, breaking windows and crashing through rooftops. Moments later, at 7:50 p.m., the F5 tornado, now a mile wide, unleashed its fury with winds of over 260 miles per hour, destroying nearly everything in its path. In less than ten minutes, it was all over. The town was in ruins, lit only by a fierce lightning storm and the buildings that were burning. Almost 80 people were dead, dying or missing.
CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
|
9781546582281
|
Paperback
Texas Quails
By Brennan, Leonard A
Nothing is more evocative of the Texas outdoors than the whistled call of the bobwhite. While the familiar two-note greeting is now just a memory for most of us who live in the state's growing urban sprawl, this bird is an economic commodity on par with crops and livestock in some regions of Texas. Three other native species of quail also inhabit Texas. Like the northern bobwhite, the scaled quail is significant as a game bird. The other two species, Gambel's quail and Montezuma quail, are found in limited areas of southwestern Texas and represent an important indicator of forest, rangeland, and habitat conditions. Texas Quails presents the first complete assessment of the four species of quail found in this vast state. Experts describe each of them and examine all geographic regions of the state for historical and current population trends, habitat status, and research needs.
Texas A&M University Press
|
9781585445035
|
Hardcover
The Star Guide
By Kerrod, Robin
More than 150 full-color photographs and illustrations capture the spectacular wonder and drama of space More than 60 easy-to-read color star charts guide you star by star and month by month through the winter, spring, summer, and fall skies Reference pages and feature boxes provide further background information A practical, high-quality planisphere (star-finder) , pictured above, lets you identify the stars overhead at any given time on any day of the year Informative, clear, easy-to-use and lavishly illustrated, The Star Guide puts the Universe at your fingertips and lets you learn about the heavens through actual observation.
Matagorda Island
By Mcalister, Wayne H.
Once, all barrier islands were natural places where sand dunes and sea grasses, water birds and beach creatures flourished, undisturbed by human development. Matagorda Island still is. Part of a chain of five major barrier islands that shelter the Texas coastline from the Gulf of Mexico, Matagorda Island is the only one completely under public ownership the only one with a fate entirely in the hands of the people.This guide to the island seeks to acquaint first-time visitors and seasoned naturalists alike with the natural wealth and ecological fragility of Matagorda. In chapters on geology, history, ecology, vegetation, mammals, birds, herptiles, fish, and invertebrates, the authors show how the island is a living ecosystem, where every plant, animal, and sand dune has a role to play in maintaining the balance of nature.
The Explorers' Texas
By Weniger, Del
First edition. Second printing. 1997
The Tree Book
By Dk,
The secret world of trees is revealed in this beautiful and absorbing guide to the giants of the plant world. Trees occur naturally throughout the world and have been a part of human history almost as long as humans have existed. Used for shelter, tools, fuel, and food, they also help supply the atmosphere with oxygen and form astonishingly diverse ecosystems, as well as some of the world's most beautiful landscapes. Now the intricate world of leafy woodlands and abundant rainforests is revealed in this extensive visual guide to trees, exploring their key scientific traits and their ecological importance, as well as their enduring significance in human history and culture. From ancient oaks and great redwoods to lush banyans and imposing kapoks, The Tree Book reveals the anatomy, behaviors, and beauty of these incredible plants and habitats in detail.
Reader's Digest North American wildlife.
By Association., Reader's Digest
A colorful, illustrated identification guide provides general information on each species, including behavior patterns, diet, and dominant physical characteristics, as well as individual profiles and tips on locating and approaching each animal. Original.
The Vanishing Cowboy
By Bertoglio, Jim
Have you ever dreamed of being a cowboy? Who of us hasn't? The mere mention of it brings to mind images of boots and saddles, horses and cattle, and being in the great outdoors. This much is true, cowboy stories never cease to hold our attention, and The Vanishing Cowboy is an especially captivating narrative. Weaving a historical text with contemporary photographs taken on location at some of the largest and last-remaining working ranches in the United States, The Vanishing Cowboy is an informative and appealing look at one of America's most iconic figures. But for all his popularity, has the cowboy's time passed? Threatened by urbanization and industrialization, will this folk hero endure the test of time, or is he headed for the sunset?
The Border Collie
By Burch, Mary R
Books for novice pet owners that combine the most breed-specific information with loads of helpful tips and superb color photos. These are the books pet owners can turn to for the essential information they need to raise a four-footed family member. There are chapters on-- feeding-- grooming-- housing-- health care-- what to expect from the pet-- basic training-- teaching tricks-- getting active with your pet in the communityThe emphasis is on making your pet your friend, and the instruction is from experts, people who not only know the breed of the pet intimately, but remember what it was like to have one for the first time. People like the internationally renowned behaviorist Dr. Ian Dunbar, who wrote the chapter on training. People who've coached novice owners through the joys -- and frustrations -- of pet ownership and who know the consequences of no advice or bad advice, on the owner and the pet.
The Sugar Season
By Whynott, Douglas
A year in the life of one New England family as they work to preserve an ancient, lucrative, and threatened agricultural art--the sweetest harvest, maple syrup . . . How has one of Americas oldest agricultural crafts evolved from a quaint enterprise with "sugar parties" and the delicacy "sugar on snow" to a modern industry? At a sugarhouse owned by maple syrup entrepreneur Bruce Bascom, 80,000 gallons of sap are processed daily during winters end. In The Sugar Season, Douglas Whynott follows Bascom through one tumultuous season, taking us deep into the sugarbush, where sunlight and sap are intimately related and the sound of the taps gives the woods a rhythm and a ring. Along the way, he reveals the inner workings of the multimillion-dollar maple sugar industry. Make no mistake, its big business -- complete with a Maple Hall of Fame, a black market, a major syrup heist monitored by Homeland Security, a Canadian organization called The Federation, and a Global Strategic Reserve thats comparable to OPEC (fitting, since a barrel of maple syrup is worth more than a barrel of oil) . Whynott brings us to sugarhouses, were we learn the myriad subtle flavors of syrup and how its assigned a grade. He examines the unusual biology of the maple tree that makes syrup possible and explores the maples -- and the industrys -- chances for survival, highlighting a hot-button issue: how global warming is threatening our food supply. Experts predict that, by the end of this century, maple syrup production in the United States may suffer a drastic decline. As buckets and wooden spouts give way to vacuum pumps and tubing, we see that even the best technology cant overcome warm nights in the middle of a season--and that only determined men like Bascom can continue to make a sweet like off of rugged land. Read more Continue reading Read less REVIEW What began as a curious search to uncover the mechanics and marketing of maple syrup turns, in his calm telling, into a case study of how venerable family enterprises deal with an uncertain future Parts of this tale recall John McPhees fact-laden reports about our earth and those who seek to comprehend its hidden components." Winnipeg Free Press, 3/1/14 There are many flavours in this affectionate look at the maple-syrup industry in the United States, along with a light taste of the Canadian flow The Sugar Season includes nostalgia, family histories, business competition, technological development, the free-market approach of the U.S. (compared to the marketing-board approach of Quebec) and, as a disturbing subtext, environmental concern The Sugar Season does a good job of taking us from the days of tin buckets and wooden spouts to vacuum pumps and tubing, also providing readers with a look to the future [Whynott] makes you pause and appreciate a nibble on a maple leaf sugar candy." Saveur, 3/6/14 A closely observed portrait of a largely unknown worldone that is full of interesting characters who have devoted their lives to transforming an intensely seasonal crop into a global commodity its a smart, engrossing read that gives this sweet cropone of Americas oldest agricultural productsits full due." Whynott examines both the complicated past of the maple syrup industry and questions about its future In a world where one barrel of syrup is worth more than a barrel of oil, Whynotts descriptions of black market dealings and syrup heists highlight the value of this sweet crop Balancing the global history of the maple syrup trade with its local impact, The Sugar Season immerses readers in a reading experience both historical and personal in nature." Publishers Weekly, 2/21/2014 This inside look at the ups and downs of the maple syrup industry over its year-long harvesting and production cycle will be fascinating to anyone interested in the modern food industry, the effect of global warming on agriculture, and just how that sweet syrup got from a stand of sugar maples to the breakfast table Enlightening and alarming." Minneapolis Star Tribune, 3/9/14 Tells the story of the annual sap run, when the cycle of warming daytime temperatures and nighttime freezes triggers the movement of sap in the sugar maples. Despite growth and technological advances, it remains such an elemental storyof trees and their biology, of children working alongside grandparents, of steam and sparks in the sugar house in the overnight boiling down of the sap Lyrical history, geography and insights into family life centered around a demanding business." Beverly Citizen, 3/15/14 [A] fascinating exploration of the maple syrup industry Part business case study and part John McPhee nonfiction adventure into the depths of a subjectas told by a host of driven, devoted and talented characters. Whynotts comprehensive lay of the land includes climate change, the transformation of syrup production into a bankable industry, the interdependent community of syrup makers, the forests and their health, the process of making syrup and the complexity of the syrup itself." Easthampton Valley Advocate (Ma) , 3/13/14 Shows the business of maple sugaring as a sophisticated, complex industry, subject, like all industries, to market forces and circumstances beyond producers control." Toronto Globe and Mail, 3/22/14 Provides keen insights into this particular branch of modern agriculture, and makes a strong case for maple syrup as a bellwether for the continents environmental health." The Writer, May 2014 An in-depth contemplation of the maple syrup industry." Boston Globe, 3/5/14 A wide-ranging look inside the maple syrup business Whynott skillfully explains how maple syrup gets made, how vitally important weather is, and how global warming may threaten the industrys future Whynotts engaging book offers a skillful and fascinating peek behind the curtain of one of the regions oldest and most beloved traditional industries
Shattered Spring 1927
By Perkins, Barbara
April 12, 1927, a low-pressure system was moving across the Edwards Plateau of Texas. A blustery, gritty wind had been blowing all day and the townspeople were expecting rain. Three miles northwest of town, a monster tornado descended from the clouds. It took direct aim at Rocksprings, population 800. The first warning the townspeople had was the thunderous hail, breaking windows and crashing through rooftops. Moments later, at 7:50 p.m., the F5 tornado, now a mile wide, unleashed its fury with winds of over 260 miles per hour, destroying nearly everything in its path. In less than ten minutes, it was all over. The town was in ruins, lit only by a fierce lightning storm and the buildings that were burning. Almost 80 people were dead, dying or missing.
Texas Quails
By Brennan, Leonard A
Nothing is more evocative of the Texas outdoors than the whistled call of the bobwhite. While the familiar two-note greeting is now just a memory for most of us who live in the state's growing urban sprawl, this bird is an economic commodity on par with crops and livestock in some regions of Texas. Three other native species of quail also inhabit Texas. Like the northern bobwhite, the scaled quail is significant as a game bird. The other two species, Gambel's quail and Montezuma quail, are found in limited areas of southwestern Texas and represent an important indicator of forest, rangeland, and habitat conditions. Texas Quails presents the first complete assessment of the four species of quail found in this vast state. Experts describe each of them and examine all geographic regions of the state for historical and current population trends, habitat status, and research needs.
The Star Guide
By Kerrod, Robin
More than 150 full-color photographs and illustrations capture the spectacular wonder and drama of space More than 60 easy-to-read color star charts guide you star by star and month by month through the winter, spring, summer, and fall skies Reference pages and feature boxes provide further background information A practical, high-quality planisphere (star-finder) , pictured above, lets you identify the stars overhead at any given time on any day of the year Informative, clear, easy-to-use and lavishly illustrated, The Star Guide puts the Universe at your fingertips and lets you learn about the heavens through actual observation.