Excerpt from The Lichen-Flora of Chicago and Vicinity The following report, based upon my personal investigations, collections and studies, during a period of many years, has been prepared by invitation of the Board of Managers of the Geological and Natural History Survey of The Chicago Academy of Sciences. As directed by the Board the report covers an area comprising all of Cook and Du Page Counties, nine townships in the northwest part of Will County, and a portion of Lake County, Indiana. This territory might be thought sufficiently large to furnish an attractive field and ample material for the investigation and study of lichens, yet with the exception of the most common species, a few of which are cosmopolitan in their habits, the explorer will meet with a dis appointment not to be experienced further south and west in regions where the conditions of the soil, the geological features of the country, and the climate favor a larger development of species. Hence mountainous districts and the extreme South offer the great est variety of forms, those of Florida being 'largely semi-tropical and identical with West Indian and Central American species, especially in certain genera, as Graphis and Arthonia. However, in the field under our consideration, enough varieties occur to form an excellent preliminary course of study, fitting the student for larger views and greater results when he has become familiar with the Parmelias and Physcias which are so abundant on oaks and other trees along the lake shore and in the wooded islands of the prairies. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

“A Way to Garden prods us toward that ineffable place where we feel we belong; it’s a guide to living both in and out of the garden.” —The New York Times Book Review For Margaret Roach, gardening is more than a hobby, it’s a calling. Her unique approach, which she calls “horticultural how-to and woo-woo,” is a blend of vital information you need to memorize and intuitive steps you must simply feel and surrender to. In A Way to Garden, Roach imparts decades of garden wisdom on seasonal gardening, ornamental plants, vegetable gardening, design, gardening for wildlife, organic practices, and much more. She also challenges gardeners to think beyond their garden borders and to consider the ways gardening can enrich the world. Brimming with beautiful photographs of Roach’s own garden, A Way to Garden is practical, inspiring, and a must-have for every passionate gardener.

Lichens are a unique form of plant life, the product of a symbiotic association between an alga and a fungus. The beauty and importance of lichens have long been overlooked, despite their abundance and diversity in most parts of North America and elsewhere in the world. This stunning book--the first accessible and authoritative guidebook to lichens of the North American continent--fills the gap, presenting superb color photographs, descriptions, distribution maps, and keys for identifying the most common, conspicuous, or ecologically significant species. The book focuses on 805 foliose, fruticose, and crustose lichens (the latter rarely included in popular guidebooks) and presents information on another 700 species in the keys or notes; special attention is given to species endemic to North America. A comprehensive introduction discusses the biology, structure, uses, and ecological significance of lichens and is illustrated with 90 additional color photos and many line drawings. English names are provided for most species, and the book also includes a glossary that explains technical terms. This visually rich and informative book will open the eyes of nature lovers everywhere to the fascinating world of lichens.