Western Treebook: A Field Guide for Weekend Naturalists

Customer Reviews:

Rock Solid Tree Book for the Pacific Nothwest.......2006-10-24

This is an excellent and easy to use book that integrates graphics and drawings to help you quickly identify and differentiate Pacific Northwest trees. It is certainly easier to use than the 'thicker' more comprehensive field guides available, yet I do not find it juvenile or lacking. When I purchased it ten years ago I just wanted a starting place for identifying differences between firs, many tree books later, it is still my classic standard.

Book Description

INTRODUCTION

Florence (Firenze) has long been celebrated as Italy's most captivating city: Stendhal staggered around its streets in a perpetual stupor of delight; the Brownings sighed over its idyllic charms; and E.M. Forster's A Room with a View portrayed it as the great southern antidote to the sterility of Anglo-Saxon life. For Shelley, the Tuscan capital was simply the "most beautiful city I have ever seen."

Today Florence lives up to the myth in its first, resounding impressions, most notably in the Piazza del Duomo, with the multicoloured Duomo rising behind the marble-clad Baptistery. Wander from there down towards the River Arno and the attraction still holds - beyond the Piazza della Signoria, site of the immense Palazzo Vecchio, the water is spanned by the shop-laden medieval Ponte Vecchio, with the gorgeous church of San Miniato al Monte glistening on the hill behind it.

Yet after registering these marvellous sights, it's hard to stave off a sense of disappointment, at least as far as the city's physical appearance is concerned. Away from the beaten track, much of Florence is a city of narrow streets and dour, fortress-like houses, of unfinished buildings and characterless squares. Restorers' scaffolding is endemic, and almost incessant traffic provides all the usual city stresses. Just roaming the streets is a pleasure in Venice, Rome, Verona - but not in Florence.

The fact is, the best of Florence is to be seen indoors. Under the rule of the Medici family - the greatest patrons of Renaissance Europe - Florence's artists and thinkers were instigators of the shift from the medieval to the modern world-view, and the churches, galleries and museums of this city are the places to get to grips with their extraordinary achievement.

The development of the Renaissance can be plotted stage by stage in the vast picture collection of the Uffizi, and charted in the sculpture of the Bargello, the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo and the church of Orsanmichele. Equally revelatory are the fabulously decorated chapels of Santa Croce and Santa Maria Novella - the city's key churches - forerunners of such astonishing creations as Masaccio's frescoes at the Cappella Brancacci, Fra' Angelico's serene paintings in the monks' cells at the Museo di San Marco and Andrea del Sarto's work at Santissima Annunziata.

The Renaissance emphasis on harmony and rational design is expressed with unrivalled eloquence in Brunelleschi's interiors of San Lorenzo, Santo Spirito and the Cappella dei Pazzi. The bizarre architecture and sculptures of San Lorenzo's Sagrestia Nuova and the marble statuary of the Accademia - home of the David - display the full genius of Michelangelo, the dominant creative figure of sixteenth-century Italy. Every quarter of Florence can boast a church or collection worth an extended call, and the enormous Palazzo Pitti contains half a dozen museums, including an art gallery that would be the envy of any city.

To enjoy a visit fully it's best to ration yourself to a couple of big sights each day, and spend the rest of your hours or days exploring the quieter peripheral spots, such as the Giardino di Boboli behind the Palazzo Pitti. You could head out to the pretty hill-town of Fiesole, just outside Florence, or - if you've time for an hour or so on a bus or train - make an excursion to one of Florence's great medieval rivals, Siena and Pisa.

Allow some time, too, to involve yourself in the life of the city. Though Florence might seem a little sedate on the surface, its university - and the presence of large numbers of language- and art-schools - guarantees a fair range of nightlife. The city has some excellent restaurants and enjoyable café-bars amid the tourist joints, as well as the biggest and liveliest markets in Tuscany, and plenty of browsable, high-quality shops.

Customer Reviews:

Handy and informative.......2004-08-15

Small enough to tote along as you explore Florence. All text and diagrams of key monuments and venues. Adequate info on lodging and eateries. This was the primary guidebook we used on a recent trip to Florence - along with the indispensable Rough Guides map - supplemented by a few photocopied pages from other sources.

Just the facts.......2000-08-17

Save the pictures for postcards (and your own photos). This all-text guide is very informative, with a particularly helpful hotel section. For example, only hotels that are relatively close to the sights, but free of Florence's (Firenze's) traffic noise are listed.

Use it!

Average customer rating:
The Rough Guides' Florence Directions 2 (Rough Guide Directions)
Jonathan Buckley
Manufacturer: Rough Guides
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Italy | Europe | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1858286131
Release Date: 2008-02-18

Average customer rating:

Well,

It's allright, but nothing special

buy it for the photos and the rest is lagniappe

The best kingsnake guide for beginners

The book is useful, interesting , and well priced.

Kingsnakes and Milksnakes : Everything About Purchase, Care, Nutrition, Breeding, Behavior, and Training (Barron's Complete Pet Owner's Manuals)
Ronald G. Markel , and Richard D. Bartlett
Manufacturer: Barron's Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
Reptiles & Amphibians | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
General | Veterinary Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books
Hunting & Fishing | Outdoors & Nature | Subjects | Books | Fishing | General & Anthologies | Hunting | Shooting
Similar Items:

The General Care and Maintenance of Common Kingsnakes (The Herpetocultural Library)

Kingsnakes and Milksnakes (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)

What's Wrong With My Snake? A User-Friendly Home Medical Reference Manual (The Herpetocultural Library) (The Herpetocultural Library)

Snakes in Question: The Smithsonian Answer Book, Second Edition

Milksnakes and Tricolored Kingsnakes (Reptile and Amphibian Keeper's Guide)

ASIN: 0812042409

Customer Reviews:

Well,.......2004-05-30

as another reviewer noted, you get what you pay for. You can certainly use this book; the info is sound. However, it's also somewhat basic, and most of it is available online. The range maps were cool, the photos were good, and even the info was OK. It's just all out on the web, for free. The book doesn't exactly go into great depth as to the natural habits and habitats of the animals (not really it's point), and is restricted to being a "pet store" type of book. It is what it is, and it's OK for it, but you can get better, more in depth info, for a little more, and pretty much the same info for free. It'll tell you how to keep your critter alive, and maybe breed it, but not much more.

It's allright, but nothing special.......2004-01-24

I bought this book the day I got my Pueblan milk snake. It's interesting, but nothing special. You can get all of this information (plus some) off the internet for free. The only reason I gave as many stars as I did is because it had a lot of color pictures, there was one section in the back that proves useful. My snake was having some trouble shedding, and they had some helpful advice for when this happened. I live in a little hillbilly town in Oregon, and we don't have any exotic vets nearby, so without that info, my little Beetlejuice may have lost an eye, or worse.
All in all, it's worth a read. You get what you pay for ^_^

buy it for the photos and the rest is lagniappe.......2001-01-07

the photos are the best of any of the "kingsnake" books, the maps are useful, and the care etc. sections are adequate.

The best kingsnake guide for beginners.......1997-11-22

I have been involved in keeping and breeding kingsnakes for years and this is by far the best book available in its price range. Packed full of photos and current husbandry techniques, I highly recommend it to both novice and experienced hobbyists. The photographs alone are worth the price of the book--a must read for any kingsnake or milksnake enthusiast!

The book is useful, interesting , and well priced........1997-08-25

This is an excellent book. We just got a Kingsnake and used the book to classify it; we found it informative for feeding and other care procedures. The book was well priced, had good photographs and the text was interesting, giving useful information about the hybrid Florida Intergrade Kingsnake (our pet) and how large it will get. John Ric

Kingsnakes and Milksnakes (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)

Average customer rating:

Kingsnakes and Milksnakes (Complete Pet Owner's Manual)
R.D. Bartlett , and R. Markel
Manufacturer: Barron''s Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Reptiles & Amphibians | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0764128531

Book Description

Their bright colors make these snakes popular among hobbyists, and their placid temperaments ensure that they are easy to care for. Barron's comprehensive series of Pet Owner's Manuals advise both current and prospective owners on the care of virtually every kind of pet, including a wide variety of dog and cat breeds, hamsters and other small caged animals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians, and even scorpions and tarantulas. The author of each book is a specialist in his or her field, which guarantees readers solid advice and instruction that helps them know what to look for when acquiring a pet, feeding, housing, maintaining health care, and where applicable, grooming and training. All Pet Owner's Manuals are filled with high-quality color photos and informative line art.

Milksnakes and Tricolored Kingsnakes (Reptile and Amphibian Keeper's Guide)

Average customer rating:

Milksnakes and Tricolored Kingsnakes (Reptile and Amphibian Keeper's Guide)
Richard Bartlett , and Patricia Bartlett
Manufacturer: Barron's Educational Series
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

Reptiles & Amphibians | Animal Care & Pets | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0764111280

Book Description

Tricolors are among the most brilliantly hued snakes that are suitable as pets. This guide identifies them along with milk snake varieties, and advises on their care. Volumes in the Reptile and Amphibian Keeper's Guide series present basic information on reptiles and clear instructions on reptile care. Each book includes general information on the subject animal's natural history, distribution in the wild, life expectancy, and physical characteristics. Practical information includes purchasing a good specimen, determining sex, providing correct caging and feeding, health care, and advice for those who want to try breeding. Despite their compact size, books in this series are packed with valuable information for hobbyists and are filled with illustrations of high quality. Each book has 50-to-75 full-color photos, line art, bibliography, and an index.

Kingsnakes & Milksnakes in Captivity (Professional Breeders Series)

Average customer rating:

Kingsnakes & Milksnakes in Captivity (Professional Breeders Series)
Robert Applegate
Manufacturer: ECO/Serpent's Tale NHBD
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0978897900

Product Description

Provides essential information for long-term care and maintenance of the beautiful kingsnakes and milksnakes including housing, selection, diet, breeding, and health. 75 full-color photographs.

Product Description

THE COMPLETE GUIDE TO PERTHSHIRE PAPERWEIGHTS by Colin & Debby Mahoney and Gary & Marge McClanahan. Discover the unique artistry of this eminent glasshouse through more than 750 individual full-color photos, accompanied by informative text from leading Perthshire authorities. The Complete Guide to Perthshire Paperweights includes comprehensive catalogue of the factorys production from 1969 to 1997. It represents an invaluable addition to any glass reference library.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding Info & Photos for Perthshire through 1997.......2007-03-30

I couldn't ask for a better reference ~ except wishing for an update from '97 until production ceased. This book is the most complete I've seen. Individual detailed descriptions include Perthshire's ID number, and many explanatory comments. The quality of the photographs is clear, crisp, and colors are true to actual weights. Most importantly, photos are large enough to show small details. Even if you never intend to buy a paperweight, this book is fascinating, educational and beautiful. Forty pages provide general information and 155 pages describe and illustrate the paperweights. There is a hardcover version, but the quality of this softcover, with its glossy paper, is certainly all I could ever need. I highly recommend this book for experienced collectors ~ and it is essential for novices!

Delicious.......2003-09-26

An absolute must have for both the novice and skilled collector of glass paperweights made from important factories. An inexpensive source of infinate knowledge about the Perthshire Paperweight company.

Average customer rating:
SELECTING TREES FOR URBAN LANDSCAPE ECOSYSTEMS: HARDY SPECIES FOR NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND COMMUNITIES
State Of New Hampshire
Manufacturer: State of New Hampshire
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000H0S52I

Average customer rating:
Selecting trees for urban landscape ecosystems: Hardy species for northern New England communities
Mary K Reynolds
Manufacturer: State of New Hampshire, Dept. of Resources and Economic Development, Division of Forests and Lands
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | Gardening & Horticulture | Home & Garden | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006F6MRO

Customer Reviews:

First-rate reproduction, great attention to details........1999-05-29

This book is a reprint of Herman Miller company's 1952 catalog and it's a super reproduction. With all the Nelson, Eames and Noguchi material inside, this book shows some of the best furniture produced in the 1950s. Great reprint job.

Book Description

In this book the eldest daughter of Roy Rogers and Dale Evans tells the story of America's most famous cowboy and cowgirl.

Customer Reviews:

A Truly Wonderful Book about Two Truly Wonderful People.......2006-06-11

who enriched our lives over five decades.

Cheryl Rogers Barnett has truly written a memoir full of Love, Respect, and Admiration for her late parents, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans. She writes of the people they were, before she was born, the circumstances of her adoption - yes, Cheryl was adopted by Roy and his first wife - and growing up in the Rogers-Evans* (Roy's first wife died while Cheryl was still a young pre-adolescent child, Dale lovingly took her on as her own) household. Roy, bless his soul, was in many ways, a real cowboy who eschewed the Hollywood lifestyle and could live in the great outdoors - in fact one of their early homes out at Lake Hughes was in a wooded setting - with rattlesnakes! Knowing that this wouldn't work, Roy moved in closer to Los Angeles, but always made sure that his children were grounded and did not have airs about them.

Barnett writes about her growing-up in the Rogers-Evans household, and in reading it one kind of wishes that too were put of a family that truly lived by the Cowboy Code. Roy and Dale were among the kindest folks one could ever meet, and I sure wish I did. Both Roy and Dale were unfailing kind and considerate to most people they met. It speaks volumes that in the one instance Roy ever got angry at fans was when they chose to want to visit him on the day they were burying Cheryl's little sister, Robin, and only AFTER these uncouth and rude people insisted in visiting him, having no consideration for the grief of the family.

She writes of the wonder horse Trigger, of how George "Gabby" Hayes was as different in real life as he was in the movies. Gabby, bless him, was a trained Shakespearian actor who was more accustomed to wearing tweed suits than a bandana and chaps - still, he too made the roles his very own. There are the Hollywood stories and vignettes of growing up knowing John Wayne and so many other Western heroes and other television and movie celebs, written straightforward, (the reader will never have the feeling that this book is a gossipy read) of Nudie the Famous Rodeo Tailor whom Roy helped to get established in Hollywood, and finally of the last decades when Roy and Dale, seeing how different Hollywood had become (mid-1960s), chose to move out to Apple Valley, and live out their lives there.

Throughout it all, Roy and Dale always gave deep love to the people they knew, and encouraged their children to be the best and fine folks in their own right(after learning she was adopted, Cheryl underwent a quest to learn about her real parents, with Roy and Dale supporting her every way). With the happiness there were the tragedies, first Robin, then the young son who died serving in the U.S. Army, and the adopted daughter from Korea, killed in a senseless road accident. Throughout it all, Roy and Dale's faith in God was never unwavering and was always solid. They lived the true meaning of the Cowboy and Cowgirl Codes.*

*(on their very last record together, Roy, Dale and son Dusty recorded a song written by two great friends of mine, Chris Hillman and Steve Hill entitled: "God's Plan" ...that pretty well sums up the honest and rich meaning of the lives they lived.

A warm memoir of a time when the tinsel Cowboys were so very much real - and real people too, unlike the sad imitation that Hollywood has become these days. Thank you, Cheryl Rogers-Barnett for a heartwarming read, and for signing my Roy Rogers-Dale Evans lunchpail in Wickenburg, Arizona last April.

Cowboy Princess.......2006-02-25

I loved this book! I became a little girl again with eyes wide open in awe of my heroes - Roy and Dale. Cheryl is very honest about the fun, the hectic schedules, the grief over the loss of her siblings, her rebellious nature in an innocent way, the strengths and weaknesses of her well-known parents who raised their family well, loved them dearly, lived a honorable life and had a lot of adventures in the way. Where the fans viewed Roy and Dale as super heroes ... Cheryl presents them as parents. I highly recommend this book!

Highly recommended for fans of Roy Rogers.......2004-07-14

Cowboy Princess: Life With My Parents Roy Rogers And Dale Evans is Cheryl Rogers-Barnett's true story of growing up as the daughter of "the King of Cowboys" and "the Queen of the West", whose popular exploits on movies and TV captivated the nation. Joy, the gruelling demands of the entertainment industry, the terrible loss of three siblings, and the lively personalities of those who shared their lives with Roy Rogers, Dale Evans, and Cheryl Rogers-Barnett fill this highly readable and personal account. Highly recommended for fans of Roy Rogers and the western movies of yesteryear.

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