From the Hudson to the Taconics

An Ecological and Cultural Field Guide to the Habitats of Columbia County, NY

Find the Field Guide at local book stores, the Hawthorne Valley Farm Store, and online from Black Dome Press and Amazon.

The book is now available at local book stores, the Hawthorne Valley Farm Store, and online from Black Dome Press

This richly illustrated and easy-to-use Field Guide is an invitation to explore the ecological and cultural fabric of a diverse Hudson Valley landscape, describing many of the ecological communities in the county, past and present uses of the land, and aspects of people’s interactions with the natural world. Informed by decades of original research by the Hawthorne Valley Farmscape Ecology Program and Hudsonia Ltd., it provides readers with the tools to recognize and get to know more than 34 distinct habitats, and includes—

• Information on how to identify and distinguish each habitat in the landscape

• Maps of public areas where habitats can be experienced

• What to look for, including lists of associated wild plants and animals

• Stewardship ideas and considerations

• Habitat history in the context of human history

• Perspectives from people interacting with the habitats

• Interactive suggestions for engaging with different habitats

From the Hudson to the Taconics is for anyone who inhabits, visits, or loves this landscape. Casual readers, naturalists, biologists, educators, policy makers, and land managers alike will find in it ample resources to deepen a personal relationship with this land and an understanding of the wild plants and animals who share it.

In the Press:

The Columbia Paper and The UpStater.com (13 May 2024): “Helping us hear the little voices: A unique local field guide released” by Deborah Lans

WAMC Northeast Public Radio featured Claudia and Conrad on The Roundtable (3 June 2024): “Black Dome Press presents new Columbia County field guide”

Berkshire Eagle (24 July 2024): “One can never have too many field guides, especially if they are about your own backyard” by Clellie Lynch

“This captivating exploration takes a close look at some of our best-loved landscapes, celebrating the forests, the rolling hills and meadows, and the clear, cool waters that define this special place. Whether you’re a seasoned naturalist or just purchased your first set of binoculars, this book will leave you inspired to cherish and protect the wild wonders of Columbia County.”

Troy Weldy, President of the Columbia Land Conservancy

“The photographs and the narrative in this Field Guide will make you fall in love with this special part of the world. This Guide is like no other and will inspire you to nurture the land, the water, the soil, the climate, and of course all the creatures that live there—including us.”

Judith Enck, President of Beyond Plastics, Former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Administrator

“Through deep dives into each of the diverse, distinctive habitats that make up Columbia County, From the Hudson to the Taconics unlocks an intimate and holistic understanding of this magnificent, historic land, teaching us to look through fresh eyes at somewhere we thought was so familiar, seeing something new revealed each time as our understanding deepens.”

Margaret Roach, garden writer and podcaster (AWayToGarden.com) and New York Times contributing garden columnist