Research for purgatory in Texas

Texas Wild: 

The land, plants, and animals of the Lone Star State 

by Richard Phelan, Jim Bones

Really, really good overview of the diverse ecosystems of Texas, past and present.  It's an overview only--don't expect depth here--but that's all right.  That's the point.  It's a lot better than a coffee table book and it hits all the high points of everywhere important.

I now know, for example, that the Aransas National Wildlife refuge should be visited with the plan of going with a private tour operator if you want to see more than the one token whooping crane.  And I do.  I'd been hoping to go this year, although that got postponed for twelve months, so this is useful information to file away.  And the book has a lot more to enjoy--Palo Duro Canyon, petroglyphs, minks in the swampy forests, an explanation for why the brushlands of the Rio Grande Plain got that way, velvet-horn bucks, and more.

It's definitely worth a browse if you're planning to visit Texas.  (Or are stuck there.)