Books published by Great Outdoors Publishing Company

If you''ve travelled the Deep South''s highways in the fall, you know how gorgeous its grasses can be. This book describes over 100 species of native and naturalized grasses. It discusses grasses in history, the origin of grass names, distinctions between grasses, sedges and rushes, and grass taxonomy and biology. Each species of grass is described, as well as its distribution, growth habit, and environmental significance. Has 96 color photographs, glossary, bibliography and index.

Sometimes, a dock isn''t just a dock. It''s a habitat, a living thing. In the tiny fishing community of Panacea, Florida, the author''s floating dock nurtures an abundance of marine life. Crabs, worms, mollusks and algae make their home there, attracting and feeding fish and other creatures higher up the food chain. These also feed the author''s business, Gulf Specimen Marine Lab, which supplies specimens to research and teaching institutions: marine fauna from his dock, from nearby mud flats and beaches, and netted offshore from his little shrimp boat, "Penaeus." This entertaining and educational book looks at the life histories of some of these creatures, and recounts Rudloe''s experiences in collecting them, in the process examining man''s relationship with the natural world.

Florida''s waterways are host to thousands of land, air and water species. This book describes some of the things you''ll "see, smell, taste, hear and feel" around Florida''s waterways. It includes aquatic life most visible from bridges, shorelines, piers and boats, and celebrates the interconnectedness of all water creatures--menhaden to moonflowers, ''gators to green herons, and cicadas to cattails. The book is illustrated throughout with marvelously detailed pen-and-ink drawings by the author.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered my home sits on an ancient Indian mound. Imagine my surprise when I found that 100,000 Indians were living in Florida when the Europeans arrived in the 1500s, and that they had been here for 12,000 years... and today they are gone--extinct--no descendants. I had to know more! From the Everglades to the Suwannee River I searched Florida''s west coast and discovered 165 aboriginal sites. From nomadic hunters of giant mastodons to architects of sophisticated temple towns and complex canal cities, these naked "Ancient Floridians" fished the bays, produced the finest wood carvings and pottery in North America, and buried their dead with ritualistic Black Drink ceremonies. They left no record of their existence, only hundreds of strange mounds which are today being destroyed at an electrifying rate. Here, at last, is their story as revealed by the discoveries found in their mounds!

Alligator meat is lean, nutritious and delicious, but until now it''­s been hard to find recipes for it. This collection of recipes is truly gourmet--and has international flair! Try Gator Gallejo, Alligator Lasagna, Croc Cordon Bleu, Curried Gator Afrikans, Sweet and Sour Gator, Tandoori Gator, Perfect Alligator Paella, Great Gator Goulash, or Reptile Ratatouille. For a more down home taste, try Beer Batter Gator Bites, Gator and Black-eyed Pea Soup, Gator Po Boy, or Mississippi Grilled Gator... 65 delicious, kitchen-tested recipes in all! Enhancing these culinary delights are quirky and charming alligator cartoons by Oklahoma artist R.J. Ballard.

Having it "made in the shade" can be a challenge, if you''re a gardener. Lawns, roses, and some flowering plants may not thrive or bloom as well there as in full sun. But there are many colorful foliage and flowering plants that absolutely love the shade. Learn what you can plant in different kinds of shade--deep, dappled, or somewhere in between--and how to maintain your trees and landscape to keep the level of shade you want, whether your goal is to create a garden that evokes a tropical jungle or a woodland forest. Plant directory with color photos, bibliography, index.

This ''little green book'' is clear, concise, well-organized and comprehensive. Mac Perry, a former horticultural agent, covers it all - how to design an attractive landscape, how to have a lush, green lawn, how to keep pests and weeds at bay, how to care for fruit and shade trees, improve your soil, fertilize your plants, and much more. One excellent feature of this book is its many lists: ''Seven Native Shade Trees'', ''Fifteen Disease Symptoms'', ''Ten Common Lawn Insects'', ''Eight Popular Berry Fruits'', etc. Simply written and easy to understand, this book is jam packed with useful advice and information! Line illustrations and b&w photos throughout.

This old favorite has been completely revised, with many more north Florida trees and natives. It contains over 300 line illustrations of trees seen every day in Florida''s roadside plantings, parks and residential gardens. You''ll recognize some of the temperate-subtropical trees shown, while others may be unfamiliar.

Add oxygen to the environment, shade to your patio, and color and beauty to your life - plant a flowering tree! Forty-eight trees are illustrated with sketches and 30 pages of colorful blossoms, original paintings by the author. Gives descriptions, history, blooming season, water, soil and temperature requirements.

Visitors to the Southeast have always been fascinated and frightened by these "modern dragons". This book contains a wealth of facts, myths and folklore about 29 kinds crocodilians, including Florida natives the alligator and American crocodile. Best of all, this book is bursting with ''gator cartoons by the late Dick Bothwell, for many years a humor columnist for the St. Petersburg Times. His O.A.T. column ("Of All Things") was long a favorite with Times readers.

Take this easy-to-tote guide along to the beach to help identify your finds among its 120 shells and assortment of other seashore creatures. Each shell is illustrated with a line drawing.

This primer on King Snook and his watery realm will teach you: the kinds of habitat snook prefer, tried and true tackle, lures, bait and techniques, best times of day and tides for Snooking, and the best places in Florida to find hungry snook. Although habitat loss and overfishing have put pressure on the Snook fishery, it''s recovering nicely. The Linesiders are out there, prowling the estuaries on both coasts of Florida, just waiting for persistent, thrill-seeking anglers - like you. Snook are the funnest fish that swim! Fun to watch under the pier lights, as they smash minnows unlucky enough to pass by! Fun to hook and lose as they leap from the water shaking their heads as if they had watched Bigmouth Bass training videos. Fun to land, to put in the net, and then gently to release to be caught another day. And...fun to eat - fresh, fried Snook with hot buttered grits and coleslaw is gourmet Cracker fare!

A handy-sized guide to over 110 species of waterside birds, the showiest in Florida. Every bird is pictured in color, with an accompanying description which details size, range, habitat, identifying characteristics and name origin. Truly an uncomplicated guide for a fascinating pastime of bird watching.