Bluebonnets along a roadway, Indian blankets in the chaparral – wildflower viewing is a rite of spring in the Lone Star State. And the opportunities here are almost inexhaustible. A Texan can see a quarter of all the wildflowers in the U.S. without leaving the state.

How would a botanist go about cataloging this abundance? 

In April 2018, Alpine's Michael Eason published Wildflowers of Texas. The guide contains more than 1,100 color photos, including many West Texas wildflowers that have never appeared in print before. Eason sought to balance scientific rigor with accessibility.

He'll discuss the book, and sign copies, at Front Street Books in Alpine Friday, April 27. He visits M...