Peterson Field Guide to Ferns, Second Edition: ... (ISBN 0618394060)

A superlative field guide with gardening information too:
Would a field guide like this make a good holiday gift for a naturalist or gardener? Absolutely-if I didn't own it already it would be my number one choice. This is the best researched field guide I've ever seen. It is very very satisfying and is going to become a must-have for anyone who hikes the northeast or would like to garden with ferns, and for all botany students of the region. A book like this is more than just a guide-it trains the eye to open up to an entire world of subtle differences in nature. There is a kind of poetry in this guide usually not seen in this type of writing-BRILLIANT! Get one soon to catch the ferns in fall color-or do a little armchair gardening over the winter.

good book:
solid peterson. useful primer on mosses. great with a variety of moss books. a good buy and useful addition to the basic botanical library.