“In nature I always find inspiration for my writing, and ideas for my scientific research. I’ve never kept a nature journal or sketchbook, but often capture images and memories with a digital camera. My backyard in Tucson’s north foothills provides inspiring views of the rugged Santa Catalina Mountains. I wrote much of The Reason for Flowers while immersed in the riotous yellow blooms of palo verde trees, like eastern Forsythias on steroids, and by the multi-armed giants, the white-flowered saguaro columnar cacti. Years ago, I did the same when co-writing The Forgotten Pollinators book while walking the grounds of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, including time spent within the hummingbird aviary watching the small but feisty birds drinking from the many orange and red tubular flowers. I cherish every moment I can spend outdoors, whether those times are outdoors in arid desert lands, Ponderosa pine glades, or tropical forests around the world. Bees and their flowering food plants are usually nearby.”