Renowned nature writer Ted Williams captures the wonders of the natural world in this series of short observational essays that describe the fleeting beauty of each season, from the deliberate flight of a bumblebee to the lush fragrance of wild grapes. From winter candy and spring quackers to summer’s scarlet farewell and autumn reveilles, noted nature writer Ted Williams invites readers along on a year-long immersion in the wild and fleeting moments of the natural world. This beautifully crafted collection of short, seasonal essays combines in-depth information with evocative descriptions of nature’s marvels and mysteries. Williams explains the weather conditions that bring out the brightest reds in autumn leaves, how hungry wolf spiders catch their prey, and why American goldfinches wait until late July or August to build their nests. In the tradition of Thoreau, Carson, and Leopold, Ted Williams’s writing stands as a testament to the delicate balance of nature’s resilience and fragility, and inspires readers to experience the natural world for themselves and to become advocates for protecting and preserving the amazing diversity and activity found there. AUTHOR: Ted Williams writes full-time on fish and wildlife issues for various national publications, including the monthly Recovery column for The Nature Conservancy’s Cool Green Science. He serves as national chair of the Native Fish Coalition. A longtime contributor to Audubon magazine, Williams was recognized by the Outdoor Writers Association of America (OWAA) as the nation’s best outdoor columnist and has received numerous other national writing and conservation awards. He lives in Grafton, Massachusetts. SELLING POINTS: . Award-winning nature writer Ted Williams’s succinct essays combine scientifically precise observations with wonder and reverence for the playful and awe-inspiring aspects of the natural world. . Organised by season, Earth Almanac offers readers intriguing insights and a guide to what to look and listen for throughout the year, ranging from the late-winter emergence of striped skunks from their burrows to how to distinguish spring’s jill-in-the-pulpit from jack-in-the-pulpit, and bearing witness to the changing colours on the belly of the male brook trout in late summer. . This appreciation of the nature’s intricate systems and the cycles of healthy, native ecosystems is a powerful testimony to what we are in danger of losing to climate change and extinction. . Stunning nature illustrations complement the evocative imagery of Williams’ prose and add to the appeal of this highly browseable and inviting package.