I have two more of Virginia Eifert’s books available on Amazon.com now, plus the author page at Amazon and on her own website. Sure takes some time to proof these books carefully – I’m hoping that I hear from you if there are any errors.
Journeys In Green Places was first published in 1963 and is illustrated with 40 photographs and 78 drawings and maps by Virginia. It’s nature writing at its best by one of the Midwest’s finest! Set in the Door Peninsula of Wisconsin—that narrow, tapering, ninety miles long finger of rock, sand and forest thrusting northward between Lake Michigan and Green Bay. Here are rugged bluffs, dunes, ridges, beaches, woods, and cherry orchards. It is a magical area for the naturalist, then and now, varied and unique, particularly in the Ridges sanctuary where the splendid wildflowers have drawn botanists from many parts of the world. The book is a vivid and passionate exploration of a beautiful landscape that was still entrusted to some of the original homesteaders and fishermen in the 60’s – and before tourists found this singular place.
I’ve added a lot of other stuff to the book, including some photos; above at the Clearing in the late 1950’s, and below she’s lecturing to a packed class (as usual). There’s a large section with a published diary of her first Clearing week (it’s an adult school in the woods on the peninsula) that shows a direct spark of creativity that finished a few years later in the Journeys book itself.
Yes, that’s me with the deer!
And on page 112 in the photo section of the original book, there’s a photo of me and a yearling white-tail. The caption reads: “Larry and the fawn, like the natural world around them, are prepared for winter and its challenges”. And here I am exactly 50 years later doing the same darned things – including pitching her books.
When I was a little older than the photo with the deer, I began to go with her when she gave Audubon programs, lectures or book signings. She’s sign – I’d handle the cash box. Checks and cash was all I did back then, but I’m sure it sunk in that this was a pretty fun way to make a living. She eventually traveled 6000 miles on river boats – mostly working tows and barges, poked around in muskeg bogs, hired guys to take her to Canadian bird rookeries and taught me to do the same.
You can see more – or buy Journeys in Green Places at Amazon by clicking here. And see her new author page here. And see her website (not completely finished but it’s getting close) here at virginia.larryeifert.com. (There are currently almost 100 copies of Virginia’s books for sale on Amazon – 50 years after they’re out of print. Not a bad legacy for someone who has been gone since 1966.)
[AND, no, you don’t have to have a Kindle to read these, just an Amazon account to get it on your PC or Smartphone. Reading on your phone is pretty nice since you always have it.]
Thanks for reading this week.
Larry Eifert
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