The BC Roadside Naturalist

Sandy Campbell is a reference librarian in the Science and Technology Library at the University of Alberta.

The B.C. Roadside Naturalist covers, in broad strokes, the flora and
fauna, terrain, and ecosystems along many of British Columbia’s
highways. Occasionally, the journey is broken by a stop at a point of
interest, and the description is more detailed. For example, at a stop
in the Lower Similkameen, the reader learns about Mormon metalmark
butterfly caterpillars, which “feed exclusively on wild snow buckwheat
plants.”

Strategically placed photos and drawings depict landscapes, plants, and
animals. The photographs are clear and many are artistically composed.
Insets on colored backgrounds highlight various species, points of
interest, and rest stops along the way. As the authors note, just
because one is traveling 90 km/h along British Columbia’s highways,
there is no reason not to enjoy the natural history.