Fashioned by the violent volcanism of the Pacific Rim of Fire, plate tectonics, and the sculptural magic wrought by Ice Age glaciers, the Salish Sea straddles the western border between Canada and the United States and is connected to the Pacific Ocean primarily through the Strait of Juan de Fuca. This fascinating visual journey through the Salish Sea combines a scientist’s inquiring mind, beautiful photographs, and a lively narrative of fascinating stories, all of which impart a sense of connection with this intricate marine ecosystem and the life that it sustains.

As Chief Scientist for the SeaDoc Society, Joseph K. Gaydos has been studying the fish and wildlife of the Salish Sea for over a decade. Gaydos lives on Orcas Island, WA.

Audrey DeLella Benedict is a biologist and a writer, and the founder and director of Cloud Ridge Naturalists, a nonprofit natural history educational organization now in its fourth decade. Audrey splits her time between the Colorado Front Range and her off-grid cottage on Frost Island in the San Juan Islands.

Valley of the Dunes

Valley of the Dunes is an intimate look at one of America's most spectacular and fascinating regions Colorado's San Luis Valley and Great Sand Dunes National Park. The 120 full-color coffee-table images created over 25 years capture the spirit and color of a land apart—a mosaic of dunes, landscapes and wildlife bordered on either side by rugged snowcapped mountains. Photos are accompanied by the eloquent text of writer, Audrey DeLella Benedict, seasoned naturalist and passionate advocate for the conservation of Colorado's mountain landscapes.

Autographed! Each copy is personally autographed by the authors at the time of your order.

View "Valley of the Dunes" slideshow

Valley of the Dunes was named the 2005 winner for Photography books by USABookNews.com

"I loved Valley of the Dunes when it first came out, and this fresh new edition is definitely something to celebrate. Shattil and Rozinski's photos jump off the page, while Audrey Benedict's graceful and knowledgeable prose makes the complex simple - always pointing to hidden wonders we might otherwise miss. Together they tell the story of a truly unique western landscape!" - Jeff Lee

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The Naturalist's Guide to the Southern Rockies

The Southern Rocky Mountains, an ever-popular region encompassing most of Colorado and portions of southern Wyoming and northern New Mexico, includes high peaks, innumerable deep canyons and gorges, sweeping valleys, one of the world's tallest inland dune fields, and scenic headwaters. This authoritative, user-friendly reference includes fascinating discussions of geologic history, flora and fauna, the varied landscapes, and the unique adaptations of plant and animal life. Those who have never experienced this region as well as those who have will appreciate this invaluable guide, which is based on extensive scientific research and more than thirty-five years of the author's observations.