Illustrated Iowa Prairie Plants: Illustrated Guide Iowa Prairie Plants (Bur Oak Book)

Book Description

Iowa is the only state completely within the tallgrass prairie formation. Thanks to rich soil, adequate rainfall, and warm summer temperatures, hundreds of species combine to produce a diverse and colorful and ever-changing landscape. Using text and maps by Paul Christiansen and newly created drawings by Mark Miller, this first comprehensive guide to the prairie plants native to Iowa provides all the information necessary for identifying and distinguishing even the most similar species.

Species are described from the ground up: stem, leaf, bud, flower, fruit, and habitat. The time of flowering and fruiting is given for the central part of Iowa. Where several species are closely related, a common member of the group is fully described, and the other species are compared with the first. Each species is paired with a distribution map. The superbly detailed illustrations, all of which were drawn specifically for this handbook, capture the general shape of each plant as well as its characteristic features. A guide to family identification, information about extant and restored prairies in Iowa, and a glossary are also included.

Customer Reviews:

A Good Start.......2000-02-03

Although containing good general information, this book is not very detailed. For the most part, I needed more specific information for prairie restorations. However, I did enjoy the discussion on the history of tallgrass prairie restoration in Iowa. Additionally, the species-specific information with additional comments on the native prairie wildflowers and grasses is quite useful and much appreciated. It is the first species list I have found that provides information regarding what wildlife would be attracted to each plant.

Great value for an interested person........1999-04-01

Restoring the Tallgrass Prairie is a great "first" book for a person interested in praire management/restoration. The book is split into two parts. The first part is a guide to restoration. The second part is a field guide for the identification of prairie grasses, plants etc. I recommend this book because of its content and superior value for this type of book.

Illustrated Guide to Iowa Prairie Plants.

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Illustrated Guide to Iowa Prairie Plants.

Manufacturer: 0
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000IBPNZI

Book Description

Half down-and-dirty adventure and half inspirational memoir, Rude Awakenings documents an unusual pilgrimage. Two very different men — earthy scientist Nick Scott and fastidious Buddhist monk Ajahn Sucitto — together spend six months retracing the Buddha’s footsteps through India. Told alternately by Sucitto and Scott in their distinctively different voices, this story blends self-effacing humor, philosophical explorations, drama, travel observations, and the occasional giant fruit bat. Rude Awakenings is a heady record of survival and spirituality set against the dramatic backdrop of one of India’s most lawless regions.

Customer Reviews:

There are many pearls hidden inside!.......2006-12-02

This is a lovely book! It really seems like a genuine account of the travels of these 2 guys through "Mother India," which seems a little too, um, rough for my likes in travel. Yet it is just a great book!

I was especially Ajahn Sucitto's words, which contained many wonderful pearls of wisdom, especially when he speculates about mental processes, meditation, what the Buddha really did under the Bodhi tree, and so forth.

This is a must-read for people who love "travel Buddhism," as I do!!

A book that you will read over and over..........2006-08-28

This is one of my favourite books of all time. You will laugh, you will cry and then you will be glad that you read this book. The authors write from their hearts and you almost feel like you are on the journey with them. They talk about their journey in India and also this journey called life. Buy it. Read it. Lend it to your family and friends. This book deserves a place in your home and heart.

Customer Reviews:

Well written account of the Colony.......2001-02-07

Like all of Fradin's books, this one is well written, informative, and interesting. My children both enjoyed listening to this as we studied colonial times, and liked the well chosen black and white illustrations. We especially enjoy the quotes from writings of the period at the start of each chapter, as they give a flavor for how real people of the time viewed things. We have read other accounts of Henry Hudson which seemed to include more information about his earlier life than the biographical sketch in this book, while Fradin states that little is known, but it is difficult to know for certain who is giving the correct information, as conjecture often gets labeled as fact in history books. The section on Hudson is only a one-page excerpt from the book anyway. We greatly appreciate the way this author makes information understandable to children through wise use of vocabulary, but never 'talks down' to them, and includes enough complex terminology to stretch their comprehension of history.

The people of New Sweden: Our colony on the Delaware River, 1638-1655

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The people of New Sweden: Our colony on the Delaware River, 1638-1655
Alf Aberg
Manufacturer: Natur och kultur
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Colonialism in the Margins: Cultural Encounters in New Sweden and Lapland (The Atlantic World)

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Colonialism in the Margins: Cultural Encounters in New Sweden and Lapland (The Atlantic World)
Gunlog Maria Fur
Manufacturer: Brill Academic Pub
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

Social History | Historical Study | History | Subjects | Books

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Book Description

This book explores Swedish encounters with American Indians in the New Sweden colony on the Delaware River during the second half of the seventeenth century. To place Swedish-Indian interactions in perspective a comparison is made with Swedish-Saami colonial relations during the same time period. These were two expressions of Great Power ambitions that place Sweden firmly within the context of European colonialism, but also meant the two outstanding examples of Swedish encounters with indigenous populations. Focus is on issues of land ownership and transactions, on trade, and on cultural encounters.

Customer Reviews:

Everything young students need to know about Delaware colony.......2003-05-15

If you were always wondering why Delaware was the first state to ratify the Constitution, Stuart A. Kallen provides the explanation in the introduction to this volume from The Thirteen Colonies series. Larger only than Rhode Island, all of the colonists who lived in Delaware's thee counties were close to the capital city, whether it was New Castle or (after 1777) Dover. Consequently, making decisions was relatively easy for the colonists of Delaware, who were under Dutch, Swedish, English, and American governments in colonial times and had to fend off the claims of New York, Maryland, and especially Pennsylvania at various times. In this volume, Kallen tells you everything you might ever need to know about the colony of Delaware, which because of its central location was essentially at the crossroads of American history and culture.

These volumes in The Thirteen Colonies series follow a rather standard pattern in terms of their five chapters: (1) First Contact talks about the Lenape tribe, the first known inhabitants of Delaware, and the arrival of Henry Hudson and the Dutch traders; (2) European Settlement refers to the establishment of New Sweden, which was then taken over by first the Dutch and then the English; (3) Daily Life in Colonial Delaware covers a wide variety of topics: religion and government, farming and milling, immigration, indentured servants, and slavery; (4) Delaware During the Revolution actually goes back to the French and Indian War to set up the taxation without representation issue, and the chapter is devotes as much time to the American Revolution in general as it does to specifically what happened in Delaware during the war; and (5) After Independence also talks both generally about the move towards the Constitution and Delaware's role in the process, as well as the industries developed by the new state.

Once again I am rather surprised at how much about a lesser known colony is worked into these informative little volumes. "Delaware" has black & white illustrations of the times and people who helped shape its history and makes excellent use of primary and secondary source quotations. The back of the book contains a chronology of the colony from 1609 when Henry Hudson sailed into Delaware Bay to 1792 when representatives met in Dover to write a new state constitution, along with notes, a couple of lists of reference books, and an index. The Thirteen Colonies series is very informative and will serve young students being asked to research a particular colony a perfect place to begin their investigation. Certainly they will learn more details about Delaware than they will ever uncover in a standard American history textbook.

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The Delaware Colony
Henry Clay Reed
Manufacturer: Atheneum
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: School & Library Binding
ASIN: 0027757307

Book Description

When Akiko’s Smoovian friends, Poog, Mr. Beeba, Gax, and Spuckler Boach, swing by to pick her up in an astroshuttle, she’s feeling bored with her “normal” life and more than ready to go—anywhere. What she doesn’t know is that King Froptoppit has enrolled them all in the Intergalactic Space Patrollers Training Camp on Zarga Baffa. Every planet in the universe relies on patrollers for protection, but no one from Smoo has ever graduated. Akiko and her crew are the planet’s last hope.

After a freak accident at nearby Virpling Canyon, Akiko’s crew faces the ultimate final exam. Will Akiko go home, leaving the rescuing to others? Or will she stay and risk everything?

Customer Reviews:

Consistent pleasure.......2006-11-02

Another good addition to a fun series. Interesting characters, mixing adventure and humor, offer a pleasurable bedtime read for both parent and child. The whole series is full of wonderful fantasy fit for boys and girls 7-12.

Akiko.......2006-02-21

We consider this a true "find." My 6 year old daughter picked up the first book, the Planet Smoo, and fell in love with the ridiculous characters and nutty planets. Then all of a sudden, the 8 year old son was hanging around, enthralled by each adventure. We've enjoyed every book in the series and recommend it to kids between 4 and 12.

Back and better than ever!.......2005-03-25

This is another great book in the excellent "Akiko" series. The first thing you'll notice is that Akiko has a new, more mature look and personality. The changes are realistic, though, so it feels more like she's growing up along with you, instead of like she's become someone unfamiliar. In this chapter of the series, Akiko, along with her friends, is sent to a tough training school on the planet Zarga Baffa. There, she must survive challenges such as Humbling Week, Yoodoo Egg Rescue, and Nagnog Lizard Riding. The plot moves at a fast clip (I finished it in 2 1/2 hours), and the tone is consistently upbeat and humorous, making it a smooth, enjoyable read for kids, teens and adults alike. It's also important to note that this can be read even if you don't have any prior experience with the series, since it starts off as a new adventure and ends neatly and happily. I would reccomend reading the other books first, though, because you'll be more familiar with the characters. Overall, this is a wonderful book for all ages and reading levels.

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Lessons from the Japanese Masters provides valuable philosophic principles
High Praise for Japanese Masters
LESSONS FROM THE JAPANESE MASTERS IS RIGHT ON POINT

Lessons From The Japanese Masters
Fred Neff , and James E. Reid
Manufacturer: Lerner Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding

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ASIN: 0822511649

Book Description

The book discusses martial art methods used by Japanese masters, which include fighting techniques drawn from ju-jutsu, judo, karate, kempo, ninjutsu, and yawara. There are lessons on the history, philosophy, principles of self-defense, physical conditioning, sensitive areas of the body, stances, movement training techniques, punches, strikes, kicks, grappling principles, takedowns, throws, escapes, effective combinations of fighting techniques and strategies for handling a variety of types of attackers.

Customer Reviews:

Lessons from the Japanese Masters provides valuable philosophic principles.......2007-03-06

Lessons from the Japanese Masters is far more than an excellent book that compiles fighting moves. It delves into the Japanese philosophy that forms the basis for sports such as Aikido, Karate, Kendo, Judo, and Jiujitsu. The author Fred Neff introduces the philosophic principles of Jiko no Kansei, Bunbu-ichi, Mushin, Mizu no Kokoro, Tsuki no Kokoro, Hara, Kime, Suki, Seiryoku Zenryo, Kufu, Kyo-jutsu Tenkan Ho, and Bushido. He explains each principle in a simple and straight forward way so as to make the principle useful not only for fighting but for other matters as well. This book promotes thinking, which in turn increases the reader's ability to execute the lessons taught in the book. The text and photo illustrations of the book make the reader realize the wisdom of the Japanese Masters. Lessons from the Japanese Master supplies lessons on self-protection while either standing or fighting on the ground, with an emphasis on using your mind to out maneuver your opponent. The information on fighting strategy is especially useful. This book looks at all aspects of a potential fight including the often-dreaded occurrence of having to fight an adversary from a grounded position. Lessons from the Japanese Masters is a book that can be read and reread. It tends to cultivate a civilized attitude toward self-protection where a person is cognizant of the Bushido code of chivalry. I like the fact that this book by Fred Neff stresses Bushido concepts of justice, benevolence and politeness, that can make life better for everyone. The author Fred Neff believes in practicing what he preaches as can be seen by his extensive community involvement including as a teacher and lawyer that led to awards such as the city of St. Paul Citizen of the Month, a commendation from the Sibley County Attorney's Office, the WCCO Radio Award, Lamp of Knowledge Award from The Twin Cities Lawyers Guild and Presidential Medal Of Merit. Lessons from the Japanese Masters is a wholesome and non-violent book with lessons that teaches martial arts fighting tactics while encouraging a sense of social responsibility. The ancient Japanese Masters had a lot to offer us by way of wisdom and a great way to start to learn from them is to read Fred Neff's book, Lessons from the Japanese Masters.

High Praise for Japanese Masters.......2001-07-12

Japanese martial arts way is intrigingly explored in Lessons From the Japanese Masters. The story of Japanese fighting arts unfolds through its history and philosophy in the beginning of the book. Philosophic concepts are explained that make the self-defense taught in later chapters more relevant. I especially like the way that author Fred Neff explains how the philosophic concepts can apply to not only physical conflict but life generally. Included is a superior cross-section of Japanese fighting approaches for description and depiction through pictures. I found the joint locks taught to be fascinating and plan to make them an enduring part of my martial arts practice. Throwing techniques are also well presented. There is even a part of the book covering how to defend with locks and throws when you are forced down on the ground. Commendable is the emphasis on ethics and safety in the use of fighting techniques. This is a book that should be highly praised and well received for use by children and adults alike.

LESSONS FROM THE JAPANESE MASTERS IS RIGHT ON POINT.......2001-06-05

Ancient Japanese principles of fighting are well explained in Lessons from the Japanese Masters by Fred Neff. There are misconceptions spread about self-defense, that reading Lessons from the Japanese Masters can dispel. Having been invovled with Japanese Karate for many years, I get sick of hearing the so-called do whatever it takes crowd of self-defense theorists. Equally unrealistic are those naive people that say you do not ever need to take any offensive action in a fight just stand back and try to exploit and attack with a simple trick. Neither of these tactics work, because the former theory of do whatever it takes may not only be immoral but illegal. The later naive stand back and exploit theory, ignores the fact that you cannot always just evade harm or counter with something simple. Lessons from the Japanese Masters is all about real fighting situations including the need in an all out fight to use strategy to set up an adversary for techniques that may end the fight. The book provides concisely and in an easy to understand manner the necessary historical and philosophical foundation for the Japanese fighting arts and then proceeds to explain and show how to fight both standing and on the ground. It not only provides necessary lessons to prepare for a simple attack, but for an all out fight as well. Lessons from the Japanese Masters is right on point.

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12 JAPANESE MASTERS

Manufacturer: Graphis Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Museums & Collections | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Design & Decorative Arts | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

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Japan | Asia | History | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1931241082

Book Description

After the devastation of World War II, Japanese designers forged a new aesthetic that joined themes of destruction and rebirth with an appreciation for life and an awareness of the world around them. Twelve designers in particular stand out in this regard; this book is a tribute to them. Featuring insightful profiles and stunning visual portfolios, 12 Japanese Masters shows how these creators brought Japanese style into the vanguard of modern design via the fields of fashion, interiors, industrial, product, and graphic design. Among those featured are poster designer Koichi Sato, who merged Western art with traditional Japanese motifs; Issey Miyake, a master in the use of fashion materials and shapes; and Shigeo Fukuda, whose whimsical creations include a two-headed screw and a coffee cup with the handle inside.

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