Odds are that you’ve noticed, and probably appreciated, the return of warm weather, green grass — and flowers. According to the newly released book “Wildflowers of New England” there are over 1,100 kinds of wildflowers out there.  To see how this new guide worked in the real-world, we headed outside on a sunny and blustery day with author Ted Elliman, who says first, determine the color of the flower.

To hear author and plant ecologist Ted Elliman and New England Public Radio’s Carrie Healy use the new “Wildflowers of New England” guide to identify a birds-foot violet, click on the audio player above.