Wildflowers of Minnesota: Field Guide

Rating:
Summary: Great Book for Identification of Native Wildflowers
Review: This book has arranged the plants according to the color of their flowers, the most obvious characteristic. The book is sectioned into areas for all colors (white, yellow, blue, pink, red, etc.). If a plant flowers in more than one color, it is shown in each color area. The color photos show excellent examples of the plant. The only drawback to using this book would be if the plant is not flowering. Other plant characteristics are listed with the pictures, but it would be difficult to locate a specific species if the flower color was unknown.

Rating:
Summary: Great Book for Identification of Native Wildflowers
Review: This book has arranged the plants according to the color of their flowers, the most obvious characteristic. The book is sectioned into areas for all colors (white, yellow, blue, pink, red, etc.). If a plant flowers in more than one color, it is shown in each color area. The color photos show excellent examples of the plant. The only drawback to using this book would be if the plant is not flowering. Other plant characteristics are listed with the pictures, but it would be difficult to locate a specific species if the flower color was unknown.

Rating:
Summary: Poorly Researched, Poorly Crafted
Review: Unfortunately there is no "zero stars" option for reviews of this monstrous disgrace to field guides. My criticism is two fold. First, this book is a carbon copy of every book Mr. Takiela has ever written, just like his bird book series, and are the same regardless of the state mentioned in the title. Oh sure, he mixes it up a little, but the pictures are the same and the books have the same generic blandness in the text that no one dishes out like Mr. Takiela. A botanical field guide should show the unique, as well as the common features of a state's flora and should contain detailed location and habitat information. None of Takiela's books have this. Rather, his descriptions and comments could refer as much to my backyard here in Missouri as they could what Takiela perceives as the natural communities of Minnesota. He and his publisher are simply cookie cutting books and dispensing them upon an audiance that might, had they not bought his book, found something of interest and inspiration in nature. My second criticism, which rivals the first and further exemplifies the concern and craftsmanship of both writter and publisher, is the extremely poor quaility of the book. Fresh off the shelf the spine cracks and splits as it is opened. After one day in the field, the crusty inflexible glue used to hold the heavily glossed pages together had splintered and chunks of pages became loose and the edges of the book no longer "flip-able". By a second day of use the pages were completely free and ready to be lost or further damaged. This from a user that charishes and collects botany books.
Bottomline, I am in awe of this book or rather I am in awe of all Takiela books for their ability to negetively transend quality and integrity and reduce an otherwise noble pursuit to a complete waste of time and money. Thank you, Mr. Takeila for lowering the bar.
If a nice field guide to plants in your area is of interest to you, the reader of my ramblings, may I suggest a Falcon Guide or any publisher that seeks reputable botanist to construct meaningful works. While it can be difficult to find a comprehensive field guide, anything is better than the Takiela series.

Rating:
Summary: Poorly Researched, Poorly Crafted
Review: Unfortunately there is no "zero stars" option for reviews of this monstrous disgrace to field guides. My criticism is two fold. First, this book is a carbon copy of every book Mr. Takiela has ever written, just like his bird book series, and are the same regardless of the state mentioned in the title. Oh sure, he mixes it up a little, but the pictures are the same and the books have the same generic blandness in the text that no one dishes out like Mr. Takiela. A botanical field guide should show the unique, as well as the common features of a state's flora and should contain detailed location and habitat information. None of Takiela's books have this. Rather, his descriptions and comments could refer as much to my backyard here in Missouri as they could what Takiela perceives as the natural communities of Minnesota. He and his publisher are simply cookie cutting books and dispensing them upon an audiance that might, had they not bought his book, found something of interest and inspiration in nature. My second criticism, which rivals the first and further exemplifies the concern and craftsmanship of both writter and publisher, is the extremely poor quaility of the book. Fresh off the shelf the spine cracks and splits as it is opened. After one day in the field, the crusty inflexible glue used to hold the heavily glossed pages together had splintered and chunks of pages became loose and the edges of the book no longer "flip-able". By a second day of use the pages were completely free and ready to be lost or further damaged. This from a user that charishes and collects botany books.
Bottomline, I am in awe of this book or rather I am in awe of all Takiela books for their ability to negetively transend quality and integrity and reduce an otherwise noble pursuit to a complete waste of time and money. Thank you, Mr. Takeila for lowering the bar.
If a nice field guide to plants in your area is of interest to you, the reader of my ramblings, may I suggest a Falcon Guide or any publisher that seeks reputable botanist to construct meaningful works. While it can be difficult to find a comprehensive field guide, anything is better than the Takiela series.