Stokes Guide to Nature in Winter

by Donald W. Stokes, Lillian Q. Stokes

Discover the amazing beauty and diversity of nature in winter. Packed with fascinating information about plants, animals, and natural phenomena that can be observed throughout the Northeast and North Central regions of North America in winter, the Stokes Guide to Nature in Winter will lead you to-and help you appreciate and understand-the natural wonders of the season. The subjects covered Winter weeds and wildflowers Winter's birds and abandoned nests Evidence of insects Animal tracks and signs Evergreen plants

Genres: Nature, Reference, Field Guides, Nonfiction, Natural History, Plants, Animals

374 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1976

About the author

Donald W. Stokes and Lillian Q. Stokes are widely recognized as America's foremost authorities on birds and nature. Their books include the bestselling Stokes Field Guide to the Birds of North America, the Stokes Field Guide to Birds, the Stokes Beginner's Guide to Birds, the Stokes Nature Guides, and the Stokes Backyard Nature Books. They live in New Hampshire and Florida.

Reviews

[Jennie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent bedside very slow read - I am a little sad to have finished it!

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I live in a place that can see snow on the ground 7 months of the year. What we call "spring", people in more southerly latitudes would consider to be winter. All this means that our opportunities for observing plants, animals, birds and insects as we usually think of them - growing, active, colorful- are limited to a very short portion if the year.

Unless, that is, we learn to look in winter. This guide is a great introduction to identifying plants, animals, and insects - yes, insects - in the snowy season. Broader in scope but less in depth and a bit drier than Heinrich's Winter World I think it makes a great companion to that book for anyone interested in getting out there and observing nature in the snow.

One sad note - the book was written in the mid 70's, so some of the info is dated. Stokes is describing a world where Elms are still dying of Dutch Elm disease and the fungi that break them down are flourishing. Those elm are now largely gone. He is describing a world where emerald ash borer has not yet arrived and insect populations have not yet crashed. The information in the books is still accurate and great, but you will keenly notice the absences where he saw abundance once you start to observe.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the most helpful and practical nature guide for winter I have yet to come across. It was a delight to read (very well written) and unassuming. It will become a frequently consulted field guide. The introduction could not be more accurate when it claims to be many field guides in one. My only hope is that I get stuck in an elevator, shipwrecked, or snowed in with Donald and Lillian Stokes as I am sure they have many more interested stories to tell.

[Abigail Natelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Scientific and kind if funny and ironic. Well written and I got through it in tangible book form which says a lot!

[Brianna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great January read about all of the things that are alive and well in the great outdoors. There were chapters that went into detail about the adaptations and behaviors that plants, trees, insects, animals, fungi, and other creatures use to survive through winter. I particularly liked the chapter all about snow itself. There were hand-drawn illustrations of all of the plants and animals described, and it was evident that each word was written with a true love of nature. I learned about this book through my library's Winter Whimsy book list, which is filled with other interesting reads - http://baynelibrary.org/books-movies-...

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe the first edition of this book was the first book that the prolific nature writer Don Stokes published. This book is unlike any of his other books and unlike most nature books, period. It gets you to see nature in a whole different way. Very highly recommended for fellow intrepid souls who like to explore nature all year round, even in wintertime in cold climes.

[Sam Silver · Rating 3 out of 5]

Living in the midwest during the winter can fill someone with a depressing view of the world in the perceived absence of plant life. However this book is both informative and engaging about there still being life abound even under a blanket of snow.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living in the barren winter wasteland of Chicago, this gives me something to think about when my car is buried on sidestreets and I am wishing I once again lived in Florida.

[Reeve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really good field guide. Many general guides aren't good for winter. This is well-written, interesting - a good guide.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Stokes looks in depth at everyday things. unlike a field guide, I read this one through cover to cover and learned a lot.

[Lorraine McCleary · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely NE winter nature guide with nice black and white drawings.

[Teresa Dicentra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Mushrooms =/= plants!!