Book excerpt: As it sweeps through the Cascade Mountains, the Columbia River passes through an area of jagged cliffs and tumbling waterfalls--the Columbia Gorge. This Gorge, with its wide range of elevations and microclimates, is home to more species of flowering plants than any other region in the Pacific Northwest. Compiled by author and photographer Russ Jolley, this remarkable guide contains 744 of these plants. Each full-color photograph is accompanied by and entry listing the wildflower's common and scientific names, general habitat, blooming dates, and specific plant locations. To make the wildflowers easier to find, all blooming locations are within easy walking distance of roads and trailheads. Jolley also describes a series of field trips for readers unfamiliar with this area. Included, too, are a fold-out map of the Gorge, a convenient list of place names, and a table of blooming dates for all 744 flowering plants.