Outdoors Guides More Useful

Sun., March 15, 1998

Rich Landers Outdoors Editor

The bookstore isn’t the only place to look for nature guides.

New publications from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management and The Nature Conservancy show how public agencies and private conservation groups are packaging their efforts into useful booklets for nature lovers.

For example:

“Watchable Wildflowers: A Columbia Basin Guide,” produced by the BLM, is a stunning guide to the spring beauty of the scablands between Spokane and Yakima.

Text describes the origins of the landscapes. The rest of the guide uses maps, color photos and explanations to illustrate 10 self-guided tours for viewing wildflowers specific to various scabland habitats. Pamphlets included with the guide have wildflower checklists for the 10 tours.

The guide is a good value for $4, available at BLM offices, including the Spokane District office at 1103 N. Fancher Road, telephone 536-1200.

A nifty new laminated poster of wildlife in the channeled scablands of Eastern Washington, prepared by Spokane artist and naturalist Maurice Vial, also is available through BLM offices.

The poster is especially useful to teachers who might want to show kids there’s more to the landscape west of Spokane that rocks, wheat and sagebrush. A key on the back of the poster can be copied and used for aiding kids in wildlife identification.

For a short time, the poster is free for schools. Eventually, it will cost $2.

“Natural Events Almanac 1998,” by The Nature Conservancy, lists major nature spectacles that can be found through the course of the year in six regions of the United States.

The guide deals with Mother Nature’s most inspiring touches protected by the Conservancy’s 1,340 preserves in the 50 states.

A separate chapter highlights nature events such as turtle egg-laying on the Virgin Islands, desert blooming on the Pinacate Biosphere Reserve in Mexico and brown pelican congregations in Panama.

The almanac is available for $5 from the Washington Field Office, 217 Pine St., Suite 1100, Seattle, WA 98101, telephone (206) 343-4344.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: 2 photos

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