40th Anniversary of Earth Day

Honor the 40th anniversary of Earth Day by exploring recent nonfiction about the natural history of our region of the earth. Earth Day is April 22, but celebrations often begin the week before. Lawrence’s celebration was Saturday, April 17, 2010. Earth Day was first observed in 1970 in order to encourage appreciation and understanding for our environment.

Ken Lassman shared the following observations of natural events for Earth Day. Ken is the author of the book Wild Douglas County in the list below.

"This year’s Earth Day is being celebrated in the Kaw River valley with morels offering their delectable above-ground parts under dead elms and other woodland haunts. Glorious redbud blossoms are beginning to transition into seedpods, joined by the emergence of young heart-shaped leaves on the same limbs. Speaking of seed pods, there are an abundance of the round, light green elm samaras and paired maple helicopter seeds ready to take flight, and Earth week this year is witnessing the emergence of many new tree leaves on a wide number of woodland species.

If you hurry, you can still catch some oak-hickory woodland wildflowers at Clinton Lake, wrapping up before the leafy canopy takes all of the sunlight, including the beautiful mayapple blossom found nestled in the crotch of the Y shaped step that supports the double leaves of the umbrella-like plant. Come back later to watch those flowers turn into little green applets. After dark, listen to the coyotes, owls and various species of frogs regale each other and the waxing Planting Moon, so called by the Osages who used to live in the area.

Enjoy the Phoenix-like emergence of the Prairie Park Nature Center from its recent burn, located at 27th and Harper east of Haskell. The yellow buttercups, the spirals of the lousewort, spring beauties and emerging prairie grass shoots will make your trip a memorable one. Be sure to bring a camera!

And be sure to take a friend along, and make a point to return in the coming weeks as the prairies get taller and taller, and the pageantry of new prairie wildflowers changes every week through the months of May and June. May your enjoyment of this area’s wildlife grow in the coming days, weeks and months, as the new crop of young life joins your own in this valley in the heart of this continent on this glorious planet of ours!"

The following books represent some aspect of nature in our area; they are recent publications, 2007 or later. Click on the titles to view and reserve these books in the catalog. Internet links are included where you may access more information about the books.

	Kansas Physiographic Regions: Bird's-eye Views by James S. Aber and Susan W. Aber The authors offer unique aerial photographs and descriptions of the varied geological regions across Kansas. More about the book
	A Photographic Field Guide to the Butterflies in the Kansas City Region by Betsy Betros Learn about each butterfly species’ range, habitat, food source, winter stage, and more for butterflies found in eastern Kansas and western Missouri. More about the book
	A Kansas Year by Mike Blair Read about many facets of the natural world in Kansas through all of the seasons accompanied by great photography. A 2010 Kansas Notable Book. More about the book
	Kansas Outdoor Treasures: A Guide to Over 60 Natural Destinations by Julie M. Cirlincuina Use this book to plan a trip into a Kansas wilderness. More about the book
	Native Ferns, Moss & Grasses by William Cullina This guide will help novice gardeners be more comfortable working with otherwise intimidating plants. The library owns several more gardening books by Cullina-- two of which focus on growing other native plants. More about the book
	True Tales of the Prairies and Plains by David Dary Regional characters and folklore are illuminated from our pioneering past. More about the book
	Kansas Atlas & Gazetteer Published by DeLorme Mapping This road atlas includes all major highways and most of the back roads in Kansas. Find out about many recreational opportunities by perusing the many lists in the front of the book. More about the book
	Missouri Wildflowers: A Field Guide to the Wildflowers of Missouri by Edgar Denison This helpful field guide presents large photos with descriptive information for identification. Many closely-related plant species are noted in the back of the book. Many of the same wildflowers found in Missouri may be found in Kansas. More about the book
	Seldom Seen: A Journey into the Great Plains by Patrick Dobson The author spent two and a half months exploring the Great Plains on foot. This journey was a chance to reflect on his life. He shares a few of his encounters with wildlife and many of the people he meets share their own search for happiness. More about the book
	Hiking Kansas City: The Complete Guide to More than 125 Hiking and Walking Trails in the Kansas City Area by William B. Eddy & Richard O. Ballentine Trails in the Kansas City region and many others some distance from KC are featured, including trails along the Kansas River in Lawrence and at Konza Prairie near Manhattan. More about the book
	Great Plains: America's Lingering Wild by Michael Forsberg This book presents compelling arguments for protecting the remaining landscapes and wildlife in the Great Plains. Striking photos throughout the book express the author’s deep appreciation for the land. More about the book
	The Guide to Kansas Birds and Birding Hot Spots by Bob Gress and Pete Janzen This field guide highlights 295 birds with detailed descriptions, photos, and recommendations of where they might be found. Many exceptional birding “hot spots” are recommended. A checklist of all 470 birds recorded in the state is included. More about the book
	America Discovered: A Historical Atlas of North American Exploration by Derek Hayes Historical maps are provided with background and context. View images of America much like Lewis and Clark and other explorers might have seen. More about the book
	Design Your Natural Midwest Garden by Patricia Hill Beautify your landscape with native plants and benefit the environment at the same time. More about the book
	Adventures in Tornado Alley: The Storm Chasers by Mike Hollingshead and Eric Nguyen View the stunning photos of storms from two professional chasers. This book also explains how tornados are formed. More about the book
	Cougar: Ecology and Conservation edited by Maurice Hornocker and Sharon Negri This collection is a useful resource for anyone who wants to learn more about biology and management of cougars and their natural habitats. It also highlights the consequences for a wild land in the absence of large carnivores, e.g. mounting deer populations. More about the book
	Hunger for the Wild: America's Obsession with the Untamed West by Michael L. Johnson American identity is deeply connected to the limitless possibilities of western wilderness. The author describes the historical roots and present realities of the region. (Kansas Notable Book, 2008) More about the book
	Invasive Plants: A Guide to Identification, Impacts, and Control of Common North American Species by Sylvan Ramsey Kaufman and Wallace Kaufman This thorough and practical resource includes a detailed field guide section of over 175 invasive plant species with photos, identification notes, habitats and ranges, “what it does in the ecosystem”, how it was introduced to North America, and methods of control. Included is a short key to help identify the most prominent invasive plant species and guidelines for safe use of herbicides. More about the book
	Wild Douglas County by Ken Lassman Lassman encourages us to become more aware of our bioregion and gain a stronger sense of place. His book may be used as a resource to become more familiar with nature in our own backyards and the larger region. More about the book
	Hard Road West: History & Geology along the Gold Rush Trail by Keith Heyer Meldahl Learn about geologic history along the California Trail and the people who traveled it. More about the book
	50 Hikes in the Ozarks: Walks, Hikes and Backpacks in the Mountains, Wildernesses and Geological Wonders of Arkansas and Missouri by Johnny Molloy The beautiful Ozark wilderness includes so many places to explore. Use this guide to plan your outing. More about the book
	Paddling Kansas by Dave Murphy Wonderful maps and detailed descriptions provide all the necessary information to plan a canoe or kayak trip in the state. More about the book
	Life in the Soil: A Guide for Naturalists and Gardeners by James B. Nardi Every naturalist should check out this book to expand her or his knowledge of the earth that grounds us all. More about the book
	Wildflowers of the Tallgrass Prairie: The Upper Midwest by Sylvan T. Runkel and Dean M. Roosa This book provides large, beautiful photos, all the descriptive details of a field guide, and historic uses as medicine and food. More about the book
	A Spring Day on the Hill: Art Inspired by the University of Kansas Campus Beautiful paintings done en plein air (in the open air) of the KU campus are paired with information on each of the artists. More about the book
	Bringing Nature Home: How Native Plants Sustain Wildlife in Our Gardens by Douglas W. Tallamy This informative book makes gardeners familiar and less fearful of the bugs trying to live on their plants. The author’s persuasive arguments encourage readers to use native plants to feed the bugs, which in turn feed birds and other wildlife. As the author notes, so much of our wilderness is being developed that more wildlife is becoming dependent on our suburban yards. More about the book
	Wildflowers of Southeast Kansas and Bordering Counties of Surrounding States by Stephen L. Timme This field guide offers close-up photography of over 300 flowering plants, common and scientific names, plant family, descriptions, flowering dates, and habitats. Many individual species accounts include information on name origin and meaning, historical medicinal or food use, and related plants. More about the book
	Revolution on the Range: The Rise of a New Ranch in the American West by Courtney White White’s book is an account of sustainable farming practices sprinkled with inspiring quotes from the people doing the work. More about the book
	Survival of Rural America: Small Victories and Bitter Harvests by Richard E. Wood Gain a greater understanding of the challenges for rural areas. The author visited many small Kansas towns and found many communities are learning new ways to revive their economies. More about the book
	Nature of Kansas Lands edited by Beverley Worster Awe-inspiring photography is paired with facts about nature in Kansas. More about the book
	Buffalo Nation: American Indian Efforts to Restore the Bison by Ken Zontek Native Americans deserve much of the credit for bison preservation success in North America. This is an inspirational history of efforts to restore wild bison herds. More about the book