If you’re reading this the day it’s posted, we are two weeks away from my book being released. Common Backyard Weeds of the Pacific Northwest will be available for purchase from your favorite bookseller on July 7, 2026. The book is a quick guide to many of the common weeds you will find across Idaho, Oregon, Washington, and parts of British Columbia and Alaska. It’s small enough to fit in your pocket and approachable enough for those who know nothing about plants to get something out of it. My hope is that it has something to offer plant people too. Preorder now to be sure you’ll get a copy. I appreciate the support!

A few more details about the book. The introduction defines weeds, gives a broad overview on how to identify plants, and shares some basic information on how to manage weeds. The weeds themselves are organized into general life forms: low-growing, upright broadleaf, vining, and grass or grass-like. The book does not cover trees, shrubs, or aquatic weeds. Plant profiles include a brief introduction, habitat preferences, plant descriptions, and some look-alikes. There is also some general guidance on how to manage the weed along with a sentence or two on how to use them (ethnobotany!) or how they might be used (wildlife or ecological value!). Photos are included to help with identification, and resources are listed to keep you learning.

Some of the profiles in the book cover multiple weeds in one. This is because their life histories, life forms, and habitat preferences are very similar. Their management is also identical. While I typically recommend identifying your weeds before making management decisions, closely related weeds that act similarly don’t necessarily need to be identified precisely to species. However, if you’re a plant identification dork like me, figuring out exactly what species of weed you have is a thrilling endeavor. In fact, something I often say is if you’re looking to get better at plant identification, start with weeds. There are so many resources out there for identifying weeds (like my book!), that studying descriptions of weeds makes for a great introduction to the basics of plant identification.

As an example, let’s look at two different weedy, annual sowthistles: spiny sowthistle (Sonchus asper) and common sowthistle (Sonchus oleraceus). Both of these species can look very similar, from their flowers to their growth forms to their leaves and stems. One way to easily tell them apart is by closely observing their leaves, specifically their leaf bases. The leaf bases of both species clasp the stem. The leaves of spiny sowthistle tend to be glossy with more spines along their margins. Their bases are open and rounded, creating a distinct spiral form. The leaf bases of common sowthistle are folded over, which can give them a pointed look.

Another similar looking, related species is perennial sowthistle (S. arvensis). It is relatively easy to tell apart due to its perennial nature and its rhizomatous root system. Managing a perennial weed that spreads by rhizomes can be more of a challenge and may require different strategies compared to annual weeds with simple root systems. Understanding the life histories and growth habits of your weeds will make you better equipped to manage them, and hopefully my upcoming book will help you do that.