Wildsam Field Guides: Joshua Tree (WildSam National Parks)

Wildsam Field Guides: Joshua Tree leads travelers into one of America's most iconic and alluring desert destinations, exploring the national park and surrounding area with guidance from local experts and longtime residents.

Contributors include multimedia artist Kim Stringfellow, climbing guide Bob Gaines, writer Claire Vaye Watkins, Indigenous naturalist Elizabeth Paige, World Famous Crochet Museum creator Shari Elf, biologist Tim Shields and others. In addition to base camp recommendations, great hikes and practical tips for the high desert, the book digs into:

• The namesake "trees" which are actually yuccas, a type of flowering plant;
• Wonder Valley's jackrabbit homesteads;
• Twentynine Palms' military history;
• Wildlife corridors;
• Coachella Valley date farms;
• UFO sightings;
• The local artist community;
• And much more!

Taylor Bruce is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Wildsam Field Guides. He grew up on his family farm on the border of Georgia and Alabama. Taylor studied writing at Vanderbilt University, and, after, wrote freelance for magazines such as Men's Journal, Oxford American and National Geographic Adventure, among others. He took a full-time writer's post at Southern Living in 2007. After moving to New York and pursuing an MFA in Creative Writing at Brooklyn College, Taylor launched Wildsam out of his 500-square foot apartment in 2012. The original Nashville guide caught the attention of national media and thoughtful travelers alike, and in 2015, National Geographic awarded Wildsam the "Traveler 50" award. Taylor lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife, Robin, and two sons, Booker and Truett.