Deborah Clark , the author, spent twenty years in the Capitol Reef and Bears Ears areas searching for and identifying native plants. For much of that time, she served as the interagency botanist for the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service. She was the project leader for an interagency rare plant team that conducted surveys within and around Capitol Reef National Park for rare and federally listed plant species. Through this job, she was able to explore much of the backcountry of Capitol Reef and surrounding lands while surveying for rare and endemic plant species.

T homas Clark , the photographer, worked as the Chief of Cultural and Natural Resources at Capitol Reef for thirteen years before moving on to Canyon de Chelly National Monument, where he worked as the Group Superintendent for Canyon de Chelly and Navajo national monuments, and Hubbell Trading Post. His interest in the diverse natural resources and beautiful landscapes led him to canyon country. His love of the outdoors and photography continues to draw both he and his wife into new places looking for unique plants in the panoramic landscapes of Utah and the southwest. Patricia Hansen , the artist, lives in Sonoma County, California where she continues her pen and ink artwork in addition to learning new painting techniques. She has a degree in biology and accompanied her biologist husband to assist with fieldwork, do taxidermy on specimens collected, and do detailed drawings of species for publications. Capitol Reef Natural History Association , a non-profit organization, established to help support Capitol Reef National Park assisted with the design and funding of the first edition of this book.