Books

Kansas City Wildlands is a guide to twelve sites on public lands in the Kansas City metro area that contain some of the best examples of the area's orginal natural communities. Beautiful forests and remnant prairies, glades and savannas are among the areas color photography accompany information about each site.

A guide to hunting, identifying and cooking the state's most common mushrooms This lively and informative guide to the common fungi of the state is the first of its kind for Missourians. A must-have for outdoor lovers, mushroom enthusiasts and cooks, the book features color photographs and detailed descriptions of 102 species. Written by Maxine Stone, past president of the Missouri Mycological Society and edited by Barbara Bassett, former Conservation Department naturalist, the book includes tips for finding, gathering, preparing and preserving wild mushrooms. An easy visual key aids identification, and clear guidelines help you distinguish edible mushrooms from poisonous ones. As a bonus, chanterelle quiche and 23 other simple and elegant recipes will awaken your foraging instincts!

If you are a devotee of the state’s native plants, you’ll love the revised, sixth edition of Missouri Wildflowers. A stunning new cover brightens Denison’s classic, as well as an enlarged format, new design and improved photographs. Colored tabs also have been added to the page edges for easier location of flower color groups. As always, the pictures are arranged by flower color and blooming time. Descriptions cover plant characteristics, habitat and range. No new species have been included in this edition, but the taxonomy has been updated in accordance with the most current naming conventions. Softcover, 296 pages.

Whether you want to draw or write about nature, this spiral-bound notebook will get you started. Tips on keeping a nature journal from MDC naturalists and blank pages await you in these fern or sassafrass-embossed notebooks.