This title - written as Nature Notes 1905 and published as above - is the predecessor to Nature Notes 1906 - published as
The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady

... pause to think - was this from Mom ? ( )

I am not familiar with this author/illustrator, but I do know she has written a Country Diary, which this compilation predates by a year. I admit to being slightly disappointed- having expected a little more... While it does have daily notes, where Holden jotted down the wildflowers and bird species she saw on walks through fields and hedgerows, it's really just like a list. Very few and far between are any actual incidents or descriptions of wildlife behavior. Most of the text is a collection of poems and quotes about the seasons, or flowers, or the beauties of nature. Wordsworth, Longellow, Shakespeare, Tennyson . . . . but I don't read a lot of poetry, especially this type, and personally I did not care for much of it. There are a few interesting tidbits about where the names of the months originated, or special holidays and folklore particular to each season.

What I really like about this book is the artwork. The detailed paintings and drawings of many different types of wildflowers and birds are just lovely. Delicate, lively and carefully done. It's apparent from her notes that Holden carried flowers and foliage home to study and paint from; I wonder if she just had a quick eye or some other means to attain the accuracy of her bird sketches. A few mammals: rabbits, ponies, one fox, but mostly it's birds and some butterflies. They really are very nice.

from the Dogear Diary ( )