Press Release
October 17, 2008

Contact:
Cliff McLean
Nature at Hand
17029 Bygrove Street
Covina, CA 91722
(213) 925-9751
cliff.mclean@natureathand.com
http://www.natureathand.com

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Nature at Hand Announces new educational software: Plants of the San Gabriel Mountains: Foothills and Canyons, Interpretive Guide on CD.

Covina, CA – October 17, 2008 – Nature at Hand, a San Gabriel Valley partnership for nature education, today announced the release of a new interactive plant identification software for the Southern California area, Plants of the San Gabriel Mountains: Foothills and Canyons. The suggested retail price is $18.50.

Major Features:

  • This easy-to-use, interactive CD-ROM contains plant studies of 258 plants, with multiple, beautiful photographs per plant (over 1800 photos overall) and extensive descriptions for each plant, including
    • botanical details;
    • uses in the garden and uses by birds and butterflies;
    • a distribution map for each plant;
    • common and scientific names including past and anticipated botanical name changes;
    • recorded pronunciation of the scientific plant and family names.
  • There is information, and illustrative photographs, about 65 plant families.
  • Natural history topics include information about the geography and geology of the San Gabriel Mountains, the role of fire in the foothills, and adaptations of plants to drought and fire. It also covers seven plant communities and addresses threats to wildlands.
  • Basic botany topics are provided.
  • An illustrated glossary makes over 250 botanical terms directly available with a single mouse click.
  • The Search feature allows a user to create a list of plants sharing certain (up to 19 different) characteristics. For example, one can search for purple flowers in April; for flowers with five petals and leaves with toothed edges; for plants that attract hummingbirds; for invasive or rare plants; for low-water-use plants; and for plants that tolerate shade. The Search feature also works for a partial plant or family name, and in combination with other characteristics.
More details about Plants of the San Gabriel Mountains: Foothills and Canyons can be found on the Nature at Hand website: www.natureathand.

Here is what some reviewers have said:

  • Mickey Long, Administrator for the natural areas of the Los Angeles County Department of Parks and Recreation: “… really well done, with lots of identification tips, great photos, and lots of extra information”.
  • Richard Halsey, Director of the California Chaparral Institute: “OUTSTANDING format”, “…a real treasure”.
  • Steve Bass, a columnist for PC World Magazine: “The interface is smooth and easy to navigate, and intuitive to use.”

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