FLOWER WATCHING

An entry in the new Naturalist's Apprentice biographies that lovingly presents the life of botanist Alice Eastwood (18591953), who explored plant life in Colorado and California at the turn of the century. She was mainly self-taught and began by exploring ``the flowers in her uncle Helliwell's garden'' when she was only six years old. Flowers became her ``true passion,'' and later, as a teacher, she spent her summers exploring the Rockies and its flowers. She ultimately became the curator of botany at the California Academy of Sciences and in 1950, at the age of 91, the honorary president of the Seventh International Botanical Congress held in Sweden. Readers will enjoy learning about this dedicated, pioneering botanist who was the only woman to be listed in ``every edition of American Men of Science.'' Beautifully painted watercolors make this book particularly pleasing to pore over, as do the well-placed activities for budding botanists on choosing a field guide, using a magnifying lens, keeping a botanical journal, and more. (b&w photos, chronology, glossary, bibliography, index) (Biography. 8-11)