"An annual collection of new and distinguished voices in contemporary nature writing."--Cover.

Introduction: Wild palms / John A. Murray -- Forty-ninth state, but first in fishing / Jimmy Carter -- Water / Terry Tempest Williams -- Thunder & lightning / Rick Bass -- How two logging towns were lost / Louise Wagenknecht -- Pride and glory of firefighting is hard to resist / Louise Wagenknecht -- Walk on the Everlasting / Frank Stewart -- Whales of April / Brenda Peterson -- Open house / James Kilgo -- Song of the turtle / Linda Hasselstrom -- Tapir's gourds and smelly toads: Life in a little-known rain forest / David Rains Wallace -- Cutover / Jan Grover -- Embrace of names / Richard K. Nelson -- Return of the falcons / Adrienne Ross -- Knee-deep in its absence / David Petersen -- Gardening at the seam / Judith Larner Lowry -- Finding the hidden gardens / Gary Nabhan -- Poems / Adele ne Jame -- Sharks / Dan Duane -- Root of the Universe / Rosalie Sanara Petrouske -- Desert winds / Gregory McNamee -- Great marsh / Jennifer Ackerman -- Saving the whales / Robert Finch -- October / Marcia Bonta -- Florida Keys experiment / Edward O. Wilson -- Awakening / Marybeth S. Holleman -- Caring for the woods / Barry Lopez -- Confluence / Kate Boyes -- Days in the field / John Haines -- Dwelling: Making peace with space and place / Deborah Tall.