Local author set to release Texas wildflower book

THE WOODLANDS, Texas -- Everyone - and everything - has a story. Even plants.

Cherie Foster Colburn, a Woodlands resident, is set to release her next book, Bloomin' Tales: Legends of Seven Favorite Texas Wildflowers May 12. The book, with beautiful, vivid illustrations by Joy Hein, re-tells the legends of seven favorite wildflowers. For those eager to get their hands on a copy before then, a limited number of books will be available for purchase at the Texas Library Association's annual conference in Houston April 17-20.

Cherie has over twenty years of experience as a professional landscape designer and has published two books, My Shadow Garden and Heirloom Bulbs for Today. The inspiration for her third book came from a passion she has for digging deeper to find the stories of individual plants.

While volunteering as a Texas Master Gardener and creating Schoolyard Habitats at elementary and middle schools across Texas, she attended a Native Plant Society Conference in the early 1990s where a particular speaker, Zoe Kirkpatrick, the author of Wildflowers for The Western Plains shared her vast knowledge on plants on her ranch, and the intimacy she had with each one sparked a passion in Cherie to begin researching more about plants and each one's individual story. What better way for students at her Schoolyard Habitats to become more familiar with native plants than through the telling of each one's story?

As time passed, Cherie collected more and more stories about plants. Today, she has over 600 plant stories. Of those 600, Bloomin' Tales delves into the stories of seven favorite wildflowers from seven Texas cultures.

"The legends run the gamut, from a Mexican one featuring talking animals that play tricks on each other, to a Scottish bluebonnet legend explaining why it is called the "blue bonnet," Cherie said. "And how the plants have been used fascinates me, so I've included some of that information as well."

There's a wealth of information to be learned from the seven tales, and Cherie is excited to share these with her readers.

"Did you know Thomas Edison made latex out of one of our wildflowers and partnered with his friend Harvey Firestone to make a set of tires for Henry Ford's personal car?" Cherie asked.

The stories are paired with illustrations by Texas Naturalist and artist Joy Hein.

"I wrote the book at a 4th grade reading level, but younger children - and adults - will have a blast finding the critters and other plants hidden in each of Joy's illustrations," Cherie said.

Cherie takes great pride in the book, and hopes readers will learn from it not to take for granted the fragile beauty at our feet, and of course, our responsibility to it.

"It's always amazing to me to walk down a path after installing a Schoolyard Habitat garden and overhear the children. They become so protective of their newly discovered world. It excites me to think how, by introducing them to creation in such an extraordinary way, our children begin to see the interconnection of all of life and their place in it. It is very scary when you realize your actions can cause death. It's also extremely empowering to recognize you can help to make sure life continues and is there for future generations. We are designed in the image of the Creator who made us to garden. Getting our hands dirty fulfills our purpose in many ways. I really hope my children's books make not only children want to play in the dirt, but also the adults reading my books to them."

For readers who enjoy Bloomin' Tales and Cherie's other books, she has completed three more books but will take a brief hiatus to attend graduate school this summer in a program called The Publishing Institute. While there, she hopes to broaden her understanding of how technology and books can go hand in hand, and she hopes to one day incorporate "How To" videos into her eBooks.

"I recognize the privilege I've been given in writing books for children and adults and I do not take it lightly. My mission is to encourage a new generation of gardeners, no matter what age they start. I want my books and articles and talks to take away the mystery from growing things, show people it is less about their green thumb and more about their green mind. Plants thrived without us for a few years, haven't they? If I know a plant's needs, I can make better decisions on where I should plant it or even IF I should be plant in my environment."

There are two versions of Bloomin' Tales. The North American version will be available in paperback and the special Texas edition will be a hardcover. The eBook is planned to release this fall.

For more information on Cherie, Bloomin' Tales and her other books, visit her website CherieColburn.com.