Appealing to conservationists, travelers, orchid lovers, and naturalists alike, the author takes his readers on an incredible journey to pursue the 145 temperate American orchid species in their native habitats. This chatty account of his field trips in Canada and the U.S. is intended both to document many of our native species and to inspire others to respectfully explore the wealth of orchids. Includes 170 superb color photographs.

An inveterate traveler to, and photographer of, wild habitats, Philip Keenan crisscrossed the country many times. He was well known for his expertise on birds (particularly his beloved warblers) and wild orchids; his book Wild Orchids Across North America won a Choice magazine award for Outstanding Academic Title in 1999. In his retirement years following a career in retail business, Philip's interest in the sciences led him to become an avid naturalist with a wide range of interests including conservation, birding, geography, meteorology, and horticulture. He contributed dozens of articles to various journals, including Orchids, in which his photos of wild orchids were a prized regular feature. He was a founding member of the North American Native Orchid Alliance, and a life member and former director of the Audubon Society of New Hampshire. Philip E. Keenan died in 2001 after a brief illness.

"If I were to visit the United States or Canada at the right time of year, I should certainly want to take this book with me. As it is, it is a delight for the armchair traveler."
— Orchid Review, June 2006