We felt that this guide should and could reach a wide audience. The success of the book really comes down to its effective format and functionality.
The illustrations present information so clearly. How did you come up with the format?
Dave Williams handed me his expert writings on seedling identification about 3 years ago. As with other prairie-related publications, I was presented with the challenge to design and illustrate the information for the broadest possible audience. The solution to this guide came in three parts. First, grouping the species based on their key characteristics gives everyone, from experts to novices, clear and simple instructions for identifying the seedlings. Second, visual aids and color markers allow the viewer to focus on the key characteristics and stunning macro photography. Third, drawings of forb and grass seedlings, based on actual specimens in the guide, reinforce the information presented throughout the book.
The illustrations present information so clearly. How did you come up with the format?
I used live specimens and photography to create the artwork as accurately as possible. The illustrations needed to convey the characteristics of the seedlings. I produced the line art digitally, based on actual seedlings used in the guide. The goal of the line art was to accompany the text used to describe and identify the seedlings. Creating the drawings was really a labor of love.
What was trickiest about growing and photographing the plants?
Timing. Some species take months to germinate. We had a small window to photograph the seedlings before they were too big to shoot. The lighting we used caused some plants to wilt, so we had only minutes to set up and shoot certain species.
White wild indigo Baptisia alba | Fabaceae, legume family
Brent Butler, The Tallgrass Prairie Center Guide to Seed and Seedling Identification in the Upper Midwest
