Southern Wonder book signing at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens

One of my favorite Christmas presents has been the new book from Birmingham-Southern College professor Scot Duncan, Southern Wonder: Alabama's Surprising Biodiversity.

Duncan will be talking about the book and signing copies tomorrow night, Thursday, February 6, from 6–8 p.m. at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens – Ireland Room. This book includes gorgeous pictures, detailed maps and deep-diving science describing Alabama's geology, biology and ecology from the coast to the mountaintops.   Here's more from the Gardens release: The State of Alabama ranks 5th nationally in biodiversity. Dr. Duncan takes us on a journey through Alabama with insightful prose and 132 beautiful color illustrations. "Southern Wonder" explores the coastal dunes of the Gulf of Mexico to the Tennessee River Valley; interweaves ecology, meteorology, evolution, and geology; and introduces species found only in Alabama, including the cave salamander and the beach mouse. Dr. Duncan’s book has already been hailed by Pulitzer Prize-winning author and naturalist Edward O. Wilson as “one of the most important books ever written about Alabama … a call to Alabama’s people to treasure and protect the state’s living heritage.” Dr. R. Scot Duncan is an Associate Professor of Biology and Urban Environmental Studies at Birmingham-Southern College. Though he has worked in Uganda, Antarctica and Latin America, he is currently studying endangered species and ecosystems in Alabama, including the Ketona dolomite glades, montane Longleaf Pine woodlands and the Watercress Darter.