Wildflowers of the Blue Ridge Parkway: A Pocket Field Guide

This field guide dedicated to wildflowers of the Blue Ridge Parkway is an information-packed, pocket-sized book that introduces park visitors to the vibrant wildflower habitats along the Blue Ridge Parkway in a colorful and portable package. Including full-color photos and easy-to-understand descriptions, the wildflowers are arranged by color and family to aid in quick identification. With full cooperation from the park association, this book will appeal to the 16 million visitors who travel the Blue Ridge Parkway every year.

As professional photographers, biologists and authors, Ann and Rob Simpson are noted national park experts having spent years involved with research and interpretation in the national parks. They have accumulated over 20,000 thousand stunning photographs of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks including the world famous giant sequoias. Their photographic, educational, and biological expertise has proven to be a fantastic combination for leading "Canon Photography in the Parks" national park workshops for Canon and American Park Network.

Ann and Rob Simpson are well known and highly sought after nature and wildlife photographers and writers. Long known for their stunning images of the natural world their work has been widely published in magazines such as National Geographic, Time Magazine, National Wildlife and Ranger Rick as well as many calendars, postcards and books including Birds of Shenandoah National Park. Their photography business, Simpson's Nature Photography, keeps their staff busy with photo requests from agents around the world. Their work can be seen at www.agpix.com/snphotos.

Dedicated to teaching others, the Simpsons have shared their vast knowledge of the natural world and photography to tens of thousands of eager learners across the country. Both award-winning college biology professors, their expertise in teaching methods enables others to easily and clearly understand the often-complex principles that they need to explain. Their nature photography courses at the college have given many novice photographers the confidence and ability to realize their dreams of becoming successful nature photographers. The Simpsons initiated and developed a very popular college careers program in Outdoor and Nature Photography. They are regular contributors to the American Park Network publications that share information about National Parks across the country. They have led "Canon Photography in the Parks" workshops in major national parks including Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite and Great Smokies. They have also been judges for Canons "Photography in the Parks" national photo contest.

Their most recent national park books include Yellowstone National Park Pocket Guide, Yosemite National Park Guide, Born Wild in the Smokies, Born Wild in Shenandoah and Shenandoah National Park Simply Beautiful and an Ipod book on Shenandoah National Park. They routinely appear as guests on local television programs as well as in newspaper articles.

As a former chief of interpretation and national park board member, Rob has a unique understanding of the inner working of the national park system. As an education specialist, Ann's role as head of their college science department has augmented her ability to communicate easily with others. Surrounded by wildlife habitat, their home in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia attracts wild birds and mammals typical of the Appalachian region to their backyard. Their four grown children and two beautiful granddaughters, Georgia and Gracie, share their love of the outdoors, nature and photography. With Shenandoah National Park at their doorstep, the Blue Ridge Parkway an hour away and just a few hours drive from Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the couple resides in Stephens City, Virginia.