Combining natural history, art, and poetry, this unique field guide introduces you to 163 iconic plants and animals of the Gulf of Maine—from Cape Cod to the mountains of New Hampshire, to the woods and coastline of Maine, through New Brunswick to Nova Scotia. The plant and animal beings celebrated here are not—as in most field guides—organized by taxonomy, but are gathered into fifteen ecological communities, including Dunes, Rocky Coast, Northwoods, Around Town, Canoe Country, and Fields & Meadows.  Each being is honored and represented with:  

• A short essay sharing natural history and cultural connections.
• A custom piece of art by one of fifteen celebrated regional artists.
• A poem by a writer with strong ties to the region, from Mary Oliver to Chen Chen to Anne Sexton. Over 40 of these, including pieces by Eileen Myles, Dianelly Antigua, and Matthew Olzmann were written specifically for this book.

With reverence and playfulness, this beautifully illustrated guide fosters connection as it engages both science and imagination, knowledge and wonder, combining Indigenous, experiential, and Western ways of knowing.