new to this site

dogsmercury · #1 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 10:00 AM

Hello,

i'm new to this site, recently I've taken up a new hobby of photographing wild flowers in my local area. I was given a collins "complete british wild flowers" to help me identify the flowers since I am a complete novice at this. is this the best book for beginners or is there any other books that perhaps someone could recommend?

Jez · #2 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 10:11 AM

Hi dogsmercury welcome to WAB

I cannot comment on the Collins Book on Wildflowers as I haven't a copy of it, but I do have a copy of there book on birds and if it is anything as good then you have got yourself a good book! I believe that a few very knowledgeable members here do own this book and have recommended it in the past! The Wildflower Key by Francis Rose is also worth having!

There's also a great forum I know of

where members are all too glad to help with wildflower identifications!

regards

Jez

dogsmercury · #3 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jez

Hi dogsmercury welcome to WAB

I cannot comment on the Collins Book on Wildflowers as I haven't a copy of it, but I do have a copy of there book on birds and if it is anything as good then you have got yourself a good book! I believe that a few very knowledgeable members here do own this book and have recommended it in the past! The Wildflower Key by Francis Rose is also worth having!

There's also a great forum I know of

where members are all too glad to help with wildflower identifications!

regards

Jez

Hi Jez,

Thank you the info!

I'll have a look on Amazon for the Francis Rose book.

Regards

Dogsmercury

metalfish · #4 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 03:45 PM

Try going to your local charity shops, wildflower books crop up quite often. As for which is the best for you, it's all subjective, you'll find out what kind of book you like, often a few is better so sourcing them cheaply helps.

Something the books don't mention much is that you can learn by texture & scent too- give a leaf a rub, some of them honk (eg ground ivy and hedge woundwort) & that makes them easy to i.d.

And don't try to learn too many at once, pick a few that interest you & see if you can spot them elsewhere, or if others look similar.

Good luck & enjoy yourself

treecreeper · #5 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 06:45 PM

Welcome to the site Dogsmercury

.

Depending how beginnerish you are you might want to consider the Roger Phillips photographic guide:

Wild Flowers of Britain: Roger Phillips, Sheila Grant, Tom Wellsted: Amazon.co.uk: Books

It's not as 'botanical' as the Francis Rose as it relies on photographic identification rather than examining stamens etc; but it has the advantage that it shows the whole plant (Rose often doesn't). Also, it is arranged in order of flowering time. this makes it suitable for beginners as it's easier to find a match.

Pippa · #6 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 07:00 PM

Just want to say Hi and welcome to WAB

ron1863 · #7 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 07:07 PM

Hi dogsmercury and a warm welcome to WAB from me

dogsmercury · #8 (**permalink**) 23-05-2009, 09:58 PM

Thank you to everyone for a warm welcome!

Thanks for the suggestions for other book titles I'll definately look into them. As for learning a few at a time, I've started to do that with the aid of the camera on my mobile phone (still trying to get used to the weird looks I get from passers by when taking photo's

). Now I'm gonna try to label all the pics I do have.

Also I'll try to remember about testing to see if the leaves "Honk" or not lol