Drycreek Blog

The Wonderful World of Ants

2009-07-14T12:08:00-04:00

There is a very interesting and worthwhile book titled, Tiny Game Hunting: Environmentally Healthy Ways to Trap and Kill the Pests in Your House and Garden by Hilary Dole Klein and Adrian M. Wenner, published by University of California Press. Not only is the book great for learning practical, environmentally friendly ways to battle house and garden pests, but it is packed with interesting facts about the insect world.

For example, did you know that there are over 8,800 ant species worldwide? And did you know that ants "along with termites" are the dominant insect species on the planet? "In terms of sheer biomass, ants...not only outnumber us; they outweigh us."

The authors go on to say:

Besides being utterly impossible, it would be foolish to attempt to eliminate all your ants, because in many ways ants are our friends and allies, and we need them. In China, ants have been used for thousands of years to help control pests in orchards, making them the first insects known to be used for biological control. Ants actually help control pests that we haven't always been very successful controlling on our own. Both indoors and out, they eat the eggs and larvae of fleas, flies, spiders, bed bugs, and probably silverfish and clothes moths. They also go after cockroaches and conenose bugs. In addition, ants patrol the perimeters of our houses and keep termites, their mortal enemies, from establishing colonies in our homes. If we let them do their job, that is.

50 Curries of India

2009-06-01T13:07:00-04:00

50 Great Curries of India, Tenth Anniversary Edition

by Camellia Panjabi

Twice as many recipes to conjure the perfect Indian curry dish. As you would expect, a continuum is represented here, from classic to obscure. The author attempts an introduction beyond simply following the recipe. Panjabi wants the chef to understand the philosophy and the alchemy of a factual curry.

Wild Plants of the Sierra Nevada

2009-05-28T13:19:00-04:00

by Ray S. Vizgirdas

Sounds like an interesting book, but the only reader that gave a critique didn't like the book, especially because common names govern both the dialogue and the ability to search for particular plants. The review also says that cultural relations with certain plants swayed how much information was included with the entries. Still, even a book about plants in the Sierra that are only known because of their cultural significance would make for an interesting book. If this were the case, the importance given to the common names would make more sense. Yet, of course it is true that the scientific name of any plant will get you the information you need much faster and more exactly than a common name can.

What the book promotes:

The first comprehensive look at the many uses, from historical to pharmacological, of vascular plants found in the Sierra Nevada. The Sierra Nevada of California and Nevada is the longest continuous mountain range in the United States. Covering about 20 percent of Californias land base and part of western Nevada, it offers an exceptional variety of topographic relief and environmental conditions that allow for a high diversity of plant species, many of them endemic to the range. The Sierra contains over 50 percent of Californias total flora, approximately 405 plant taxa endemic to the Sierra, and 218 taxa considered rare.

Wild Plants of the Sierra Nevada inventories the flora of the entire range, including comprehensive descriptions of the plants; their traditional uses as food, medicine, or for making tools and other utensils; and their habitat; plus "quick keys" to help identify similar species. The authors introduction describes the natural history and ecology of Sierra Nevada plants in terms of plant communities and life zones, addressing the impact of such variables as climate, elevation, soil, and precipitation. They also outline the basic principles of ethnobotany, the role of plants in nutrition and human medicine, the classification of plants, and methods of collecting plant specimens and protecting rare species. The plant descriptions are accompanied by line drawings of each major species, and the book includes a table of Sierra Nevada habitats and their associated plants, along with a list of threatened, endangered, and sensitive plant species found in the range. Wild Plants of the Sierra Nevada is an essential guide for botanists, outdoors aficionados, and anyone interested in the intricate connections between plants, their environment, and our human species.

Take a closer look.

Note: For those interested in what grows here in Nevada, we have the Native and Naturalized Plants of Nevada Index, courtesy of the USDA.

A Sierra Nevada Flora

2009-05-16T14:00:00-04:00

by Norman F. Weeden and illustrated by Amy David

Need help identifying plants in the wild? This book has a good reputation for being handy in the field. It's compact enough to be stored with ease in a day pack or backpack and the information it offers is compact, too.

Description:

From Toxicodendron diversilobum (poison oak) to Zannichellia palustris (horned pondweed), this book will help every outdoor enthusiast identify, and possibly avoid certain plants in the Sierra. Covers wildflowers, ferns, shrubs, and trees. This edition strictly follows the nomenclature presented in The Jepson Manual as the basis for scientific names.

Take a closer look.