She has now produced a more ambitious volume dealing with Indiana's native trees. Each of the 72 plates depicts one species, presented as a living organism in its natural setting. Supplemental paintings show the flowers, fruit or nuts, leaves, and a winter twig from that tree and occasionally from near relatives that bear a close resemblance, so that most of Indiana's approximately 100 native trees are represented in this book. The careful, detailed work is intended as a scientifically accurate representation of each tree's character or essence. "Most people see a tree and think generic tree", says Maryrose Wampler. "But they are more than that. Now that I have studied them and painted them in detail, I see each species as unique".
Fred Wampler has contributed fascinating text to go with each plate, describing the tree's properties, natural history, uses, and special features. Trees of Indiana is a book for all art lovers and naturalists.
