This beautiful field guide contains photographs and the natural history of 91 species of butterflies that live in the Monterey area. 

One of our favorite field guides! Beautifully illustrated and easy to peruse, this guide to Northern California’s wild diversity of life is great for kids and curious adults. 

People who live in Northern California have access to a dramatic variety of landscapes, climates and biodiversity. Marine and coastal zones, rugged mountains, humid forests, wild backcountry, grasslands, sagebrush scrublands, deserts, streams and lakes all contribute to its unique, scenic wonders and ecological grandeur. Conservation International defines the California Floristic Province—the area of California west of the Sierra Nevada-Cascade Range—as a world biodiversity hotspot, owing to an unusual concentration of endemic plants. Of approximately 8000 plant species in the geographic region, about half are endemic. Many areas of Northern California, especially in the mountains, have been protected, and the significance of that foresight is inestimable.

Lone Pine’s newest field guide – the NORTHERN CALIFORNIA NATURE GUIDE – is a handy aid for area residents and visitors alike in identifying the animals and plants you’ll find when visiting Northern California’s great outdoors. The book features 267 types of animals and 117 plants found in the region. Each species is portrayed by an accurate hand-drawn color illustration. Accompanying text presents the common and scientific names of the species, descriptions of size and other identifying characteristics, natural history and fascinating facts, and where you can expect to find that species.

The book is conveniently organized by color-coded categories: mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles, fish, invertebrates, trees, shrubs, herbs, grasses and ferns. 

This newly-updated field guide is the perfect companion for your long beach walks. 

Newly revised and expanded, this guide to the most common animals and plants of the California seashore is a must-have companion for any curious beach visitor.

Look no further than The New Beachcomber’s Guide to Seashore Life of California for the essential tidal guidebook. More than 600 species of the sponges, molluscs, crustaceans, sea stars, sea anemones, jellies, fishes, seaweeds and other flora and fauna you’re likely to see are described here in concise detail―that’s more than double the entries from the original and ever-popular Beachcomber’s Guide to California.

Each entry is photographed in splendid color for identification in the natural habitat, and there are new indicators classifying introduced/invasive species. Also included with each species are common and scientific names, description, size, habitat, range and interesting notes, such as how the Dalmation polyclad has about forty eyes or how it takes ten years for a common lampshell to reach full size.

Get to know some of of your less familiar wild neighbors with this beautifully-illustrated field guide! 

In the same lighthearted yet scientifically accurate style of Fylling’s Illustrated Guide to Pacific Coast Tide Pools, this portable guidebook reveals the splendidly strange animals and plants just outside your door. Marni Fylling’s full-color illustrations make species identification a snap, and concise descriptions include fascinating (and sometimes grotesque) factoids about frequently encountered plants, insects, arachnids, birds, and mammals. With Fylling’s guidance, the everyday becomes extraordinary: Pigeons share nest-building and egg-sitting duties, and mate for life—with occasional dalliances; squirrel teeth grow about six inches per year; spiders owe their characteristic creep to their “hydraulic” legs; poison oak and poison ivy’s itch-inducing oil is also found in pistachios, cashews, and mangoes; and much, much more.

Are you getting curious about rocks? Want to know more about the fossils you’ve spotted in the creek at Nisene Marks, or the cliffs at Seacliff? Want to learn more about the Sand Hills of Henry Cowell, or how to “read” the history of our area hidden in stone? You’re in luck – local author Frank A Perry has written a comprehensive guide to the geology of our home! There’s even information about the history of adobe bricks, and the restoration of the Castro Adobe State Historic Park! 

The northern Monterey Bay region has more interesting geologic features packed into a small area than almost any other part of California. Its dynamic history has been shaped by dramatic uplifts, volcanic eruptions, rising and falling sea levels, and the ever-moving San Andreas Fault. The book explores in simple language an amazing diversity of topics. These include rocks, fossils, earthquakes, beaches, minerals, water, marine terraces, and the Monterey Submarine Canyon. The author places each within the context of human history, and the book includes activities, places to visit, and sources for further reading.

An easy-to-use, fascinating field guide to the most commonly-encountered wildflowers in California. 

In the spring, California’s rolling hills, green valleys, and coastal slopes are colored with wildflowers treasured by both residents and visitors to the state. First published more than forty years ago, this popular guidebook has helped thousands of amateur and intermediate wildflower enthusiasts learn the names of the flowers located in some of the state’s loveliest and most accessible areas—from below the yellow pine belt in the Sierra Nevada westward to the coast. Thoroughly revised and updated throughout, it is now easier to use and more accurate—the perfect guide to take along on outdoor excursions in California and surrounding regions.

A take-anywhere guide to the mindful practice of cloud watching! Discover different types of clouds, unique sky phenomena, and the many benefits that come from slowing down long enough to notice them. The perfect size to toss in a backpack and take on an adventure. Filled with remarkable tidbits and soothing practices, CLOUD SPOTTING reminds us that the wonders of nature abound if we just take the time to look.