Bermuda has an abundance of beautiful flora colourful, exuberant and visually stimulating. Much of it can be seen from the roadside, yet how many of us take much notice as we drive along, let along stop to admire it?

One who does is retired horticulturist and Anglican priest Don Moore, who has just published his second book featuring many of these wonders of nature.

Entitled 'Bermuda Flora from the Road Side II,' its 32 pages are filled with colour photographs of a selection of flowers and trees at their best. Many are as familiar as old friends, while others can fool standard thinking.

Did you know, for example, that the Darrell cedar tree was introduced to Bermuda during the blight, but untouched by it?

"We don't know who introduced it, but when the Bermuda cedars died it was still standing because it was resistant to the blight," said Mr. Moore.

A long-leafed yellow vine growing along Point Finger Road, in Paget, was one of the early plants introduced as part of a reforestation programme, and a maidenhair tree, whose botanical name is ginko biloba, is growing in the Cabinet grounds, although it is not featured in the new book.

"The maidenhair is a prehistoric tree which, together with the cycads family, formed a tropical forest in Europe in prehistoric times, and was a primary source of coal," Mr. Moore said. "The one in the Cabinet grounds should have a preservation order on it, if it doesn't already."

Many of the trees and plants growing in the expansive grounds of St. Mark's church, in Smith's, are thanks to the late Mr. Scott Pearman, founder of Pearman, Watlington, who, like Mr. William S. Zuill and his late father, were avid collectors.

In fact, Mr. Moore reveals that the church is in the early stages of turning the grounds into a miniature national park.

The book's format includes both a standard shot and a small close-up of each subject, together with its common name, botanical name, family and country of origin.

Apart from Mr. Moore's introduction and brief personal history, there is no text, which allows the reader more time to savour the images and learn about them.

"The pictures give you an idea of just what there is in Bermuda," Mr. Moore added. "We are a little bit unique because we are not completely tropical, so we have quite a few plants which grow well here but would not grow farther south."

In addition, the author-photographer has grouped his images into 'chapters' — such as vines, palms, bulbs and ferns and also included an index listing both the botanical and common names of each specimen, as well as the page on which it is found.

An attractive close-up of yelAn attractive close-up of yellow frangipani blossoms makes a striking front and back cover.

This is a lovely little reference book. Compact and lightweight, it provides a stimulus to pay attention to what grows around us and learn more about it. On family outings, it could even be the basis of a botanical treasure hunt to see how many of the subjects can be found and identified, for Mr. Moore assures that, while he did not always photograph from the roadside, everything can be seen from that vantage point without trespassing on private property.

As its name implies, 'Bermuda Flora from the Road Side II' is the second book of its kind which Mr. Moore has produced, and while he says 'let's not talk about that', since he travels everywhere with his camera, and has an ever-growing library of images from which to draw, it is probably a safe bet that similar editions will follow.

In his opening 'commentary', the author pays tribute to the skills of Mr. Horst Augustinovic and Mr. Peter Marsh, of Printlink, for their expertise, as well as that of computer whiz Mr. John Nichols, and Mr. Neville Richardson, curator of the Botanical Gardens.

Born and raised in London, England, Mr. Moore began his working life as a journalist before serving with the Royal Corps of Signals, mainly in Tripoli, North Africa. Always a lover of nature and horticulture, he then became an apprentice in the North London Parks system, eventually qualifying to enter the renowned Royal Botanic Garden, Kew.

Upon graduating, his love of travel inspired him to join Bermuda's Department of Agriculture in 1956 as a reforestation officer. He remained with the department for 15 years.

As Superintendent of the Botanical Gardens, he was responsible for the merger with the adjacent Camden estate once it became Government-owned. Mr. Moore also conceived and developed the department's Tulo Valley plant nursery, and the apprenticeship scheme.

Granted Bermudian status in the early 1960s, his third career began as a lay preacher in the Anglican church here, and he became an ordained priest in 1988. He is currently priest in charge at St. Mark's Church, in Smith's parish.

For all that he has accomplished in life, and has so much to be proud of, Mr. Moore describes meeting and, in 1959, marrying the former Kathy Mortimer as "the highlight of my whole life". It was she who inspired and assisted him in the production of his first book, but unfortunately did not live to see it published. Therefore, it is to his "loving partner in life" that his second book is dedicated.

• 'Bermuda Flora from the Road Side II' costs $12, and is available at The Bermuda Book Store, the Book Mart, the Craft Market in Dockyard, the Collector's Hill Apothecary, the Bermuda Botanical Society gift shop in the Botanical Gardens, the Book Cellar in St. George's, and Trustworthy gift shop in the Walker Arcade.