Herbert Spencer Zim (July 12, 1909 – December 5, 1994) was a naturalist, author, editor and also known as the fonder and editor in chief of the Golden Guides series of nature books. He wrote or edited more than one hundred scientific books, and in a thirty-year career teaching in the public schools introduced laboratory instruction into elementary school science. He is best known as the founder in 1945, of the Golden Guides, pocket-size introductions for children to such subjects as fossils, zoology, microscopy, rocks and minerals, codes and secret writings, trees, wildflowers, dinosaurs, navigation and more. He was the sole or co-author for many of the books, which were valued for their clarity, accuracy and attractive presentation helped by the illustrations of James Gordon Irving. He continued to work on the Golden Guides series until Alzheimer's disease forced him to slow down in the 1990s. He died in 1994 at Plantation Key, Florida.
This is a nice appetizer of a wild flower book, seemingly advanced for its time, with color pictures of every flower it covers, and sprinkled occasionally with interesting trivia about various flowers. It is not a comprehensive study of each flower, but aids the beginner in identifying common wild flowers. I'm glad I saved this book from its likely fate of a landfill.
This is a cute little handbook about wildflowers. I own a couple of the Golden Guides series.
This book is a little dated - and I know plant life has changed since the advent of GMOs and DNA testing. Not only have we altered plant life - so many of these wildflowers may not be as popular due to chemical use but now we can better identify plants through DNA. Also, I am certain there may be new discoveries or introductions of wildflowers. All in all, this book gives a beginners look and has beautiful illustrations to keep the reader entertained. A nice little book.
Like all Golden Guides, it is way too small a volume for the geographic area covered. Useful as a way to accumulate random knowledge, not useful as a practical field guide.