BOOK 



MARKET 



• HUGH MORTON'S NORTH CAROLINA, by 

 Hugh Morton. 2003. University of North Carolina 

 Press, Chapel Hill, NC27S1 5-2288. 207 pages. 

 Hardback, $35. ISBN 0-8078-2832-7. 



If you're looking for an up-close view of 

 North Carolina's most celebrated scenes, browse 

 through a copy of Hugh Morton's North Carolina. 

 Without leaving your front porch rocker, you can 

 view the state from the mountains to the coast 

 — from the very best angles. 



Before long, you'll be engaged in far more 

 than a mere collection of photos. Morton's 

 images and colloquial captions relate personal 

 adventures that string together some of the most 

 important events of 20th-century North Carolina. 



One photo features former Sen. Jesse Helms 

 and former Gov.Jim Hunt joined in cochairing 

 the Save Cape Hatteras Lighthouse Committee, 

 which raised more than $500,000. "Perhaps 

 folks thought that if they could work together, 

 the cause must be a worthwhile one," Morton 

 speculates. 



Another coastal photo features then Gov. R. 

 Gregg Cherry crowning movie actressjacqueline 

 White as queen of the first Azalea Festival at 

 Wrightsville Beach in 1 948. The crown was so 

 elaborate, Morton says, that the confused gover- 

 nor placed it on the queen's head upside down. 



Featuring images of Hurricane Hazel along- 

 side legends such as Michael Jordan, Morton 

 captures the gamut of North Carolina's natural 

 phenomena. With a collection of more than 60 

 years of memories, Morton — president of Grand- 

 father Mountain and recipient of thejohn Tyler 

 Caldwell Award for the Humanities — appeals 

 to all ages and varied interests. It's a book that 

 evokes Tar Heel pride. 



• THE NATURAL TRAVELER ALONG NORTH 

 CAROLINA'S COAST, by John Manuel. 2003. 

 John F. Blair, Publisher, Winston-Salem, NC27103. 

 322pages. Paperback, $18.95. ISBNO-89587- 



For those ready to explore the season's new 

 growth first-hand, John Manuel has written just 

 the guide. 



Hiking, fishing or sailing enthusiasts, will 

 find the perfect spots — and what to do along the 

 way. Anglers may want to refer to Manuel's chart, 



"Fishing on the Outer Banks," listing the best times 

 and locations for catching fish. 



Visitors to downtown Wlmington will appre- 

 ciate his detailed street map, highlighting pertinent 

 tourist attractions. And readers with an affinity for 

 wreck-diving may tune into Manuel's favorite spots 

 for scoping out sunken ships. 



Divided into four sections, the book leads off 

 with a quick coastal history lesson that segues into 

 three chapters featuring different geographic re- 

 gions of North Carolina's coast: The Outer Banks, 

 The Sound Country, and The Southern Coast. 



For each region, Manuel features special 

 attractions, from historic homes to state and 

 national parks. 



Leaving no stone unturned, he guides readers 

 through a nature course, supplying information on 

 wildlife such as the snow goose, the red-cockaded 

 woodpecker and the red wolf. 



And, if travelers work up an appetite while 

 hang-gliding on Jocke/s Ridge or decide to extend 

 their visit on Bald Head Island an extra day, they 

 should check out Manuel's selection of restaurants 

 and lodgings to fit most any budget. 



• CORAL REEFS: ECOLOGY, THREATS & 

 CONSERVATION, by Charles Sheppard. 2002. 

 Voyageur Press, Inc., Stillwater, MN 55082. 72 pages. 

 Paperback, $ 16.95. ISBN 0-89658-220-5. 



Vibrant, diverse, aesthetically delicate, yet 

 immensely sturdy — coral reefs are one of our 

 waters' most exquisite hidden treasures. In his richly 

 illustrated book, Sheppard gives readers a glimpse 

 into the world of these powerful structures that have 

 existed over 200 million years. 



Though coral reefs are obviously resilient, 

 Sheppard writes that in the span of one human 

 lifetime, almost a third of our world's sparkling in- 

 frastructures have been killed due to abusive fishing 

 practices in some countries, coastal development, 

 water pollution and global warming. 



Sheppard reminds readers that "People do 

 not prosper when the environment around them 

 fails." 



By combining tales of his personal diving 

 experience with stunning underwater photos that 

 attest to the reefs' glory, Sheppard helps readers 

 understand the history of these magnificent "giants" 

 that are bom of tiny, primitive polyps. He also shows 



the vital role coral reefs play in global ecosystems 



— and the threats reefs face. 



The author urges coastal lovers to take an ac- 

 tive approach in saving these habitats that support 

 numerous tropical marine communities. 



Sheppard is full of hope for the future, believ- 

 ing strongly in the power of research and education. 

 "Where both are done, the coastal people and the 

 reef both become prime beneficiaries," he writes. 



While this book focuses on reefs around the 

 globe, it may entice readers to visit one of the state's 

 aquariums to learn more about the rare corals that 

 grow in deep waters offNorth Carolina's coast. 



• GARDEN PERENNIALS FORTHE COASTAL 



SOUTH, by Barbara J. Sullivan. 2003. University of 

 North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC27S1 5-2288. 

 268pages. Paperback, $19.95. ISBN 0-8078-5473-5. 



Sprinkling sound advice with gardening humor 

 and sparkling pictures, Sullivan motivates the most 

 brown-thumbed gardener to grab a pair of gloves 

 and a shovel. 



She buries any intimidation readers may 

 have with the assurance that the coastal South has 

 such a wide variety of choices in perennials, shrubs 

 and trees that it's virtually impossible to unearth 

 anything but a breathtaking garden. 



By following her colorful zone maps, garden- 

 ers discover the temperatures certain perennials can 

 tolerate based on their location. 



Once gardeners choose the plants that best 

 suittheiryards, they can check out Sullivan's A-Z 

 guide, listing cultivation requirements, growing 

 habits, and other specifics for more than 1 ,000 

 varieties. 



Sullivan also helps readers coordinate peren- 

 nials with companion plants. "Perennials need 

 company in the garden, whether it be mingling with 

 ferns or sharing the glory with a beautiful wall of 

 creeping fig," Sullivan notes. 



She also draws attention to annuals such as 

 vines, bulbs, herbs and groundcovers in a special 

 chapter devoted to the garden's overall scheme. 



Sullivan writes, "Spring is the only season that 

 leads us to believe perfection is truly possible." 



The bold, vivid photographs that blossom 

 from the pages can be mirrored in readers' gardens 



— with guidance from this delightful gardening 

 resource book. O 



SPRING 2004 



