The mission of the Highlands Center for Natural History is to help children and adults to discover the wonders of nature and become wise caretakers of the land. For more than three years Al Lodwick has lived near and walked the trails at the Highlands Center and Lynx Lake in Arizona's Prescott National Forest making photographs and observations of nature's changes. This book details those observations in both text and full-color photographs. The highlights are things that the causal walker along the trails can experience without any elaborate equipment or investment in time other than an enjoyable day observing the offerings of nature. The book includes ideas for entertaining children and stimulating their interest in nature. The emphasis of the book is understanding what is observed rather than a field-guide for identification. The book has sections devoted to birds, flowers, trees, shrubs, grasses, fungi, lichens, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, arachnids, and geology. The final section gives examples of what might be seen during each season of the year.

Stretching along 156 miles of Florida's East Coast, the Indian River Lagoon contains the St. Lucie estuary, the Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River Lagoon, and the Indian River. Nineteen canals and five man-made inlets have dramatically reshaped the region in the past two centuries, challenging the most biologically diverse estuarine system in the United States. Indian River Lagoon traces the winding story of the waterway, showing how humans have altered the area to fit their needs and also how the lagoon has influenced the cultures along its shores. Now stuck in transition between a place of labor and a place of recreation, the lagoon has become a chief focus of public concern. This book provides a much-needed bigger picture as debates continue over how best to restore this natural resource.