When the cactuses bloom in Big Bend National Park, their vivid pinks and purples, reds and yellows bring an unforgettable beauty to the rugged Chihuahuan Desert landscape. In fact, many people visit the park just to see the cactus blossoms and other wildflowers. If you"re one of them, this book will increase your enjoyment by helping you identify the wonders at your feet. And if you"ve never been to Big Bend when the cactuses are blooming, you"ll discover here what you"ve been missing. As you hike or drive through the park, you can identify most of the cactuses you see simply by leafing through these splendid pictures and then checking the descriptions, which indicate the cactuses" characteristic features and habitat. To make the book even more useful, Evans also briefly defines the parts of a cactus, explains how scientific names work, and offers a quick introduction to the geography and ecology of Big Bend National Park and the Chihuahuan Desert.