author
Neltje Blanchan
1865–1918
A warmly observant nature writer, she helped generations of readers notice the birds and wildflowers around them. Writing as Neltje Blanchan, she blended accessible natural history with a lively, inviting style.
5 Audiobooks
Wild Flowers Worth Knowing
by Neltje Blanchan
Birds Every Child Should Know
by Neltje Blanchan
About the author
Born in Chicago in 1865 as Nellie Blanchan De Graff, she became best known under the pen name Neltje Blanchan. She wrote popular books about birds, wildflowers, and gardening, making natural history feel approachable to general readers rather than just specialists.
Her best-known works include Bird Neighbors, Wild Flowers Worth Knowing, and Nature's Garden. She is often remembered for combining careful observation with graceful, readable prose, helping bring everyday American plant and bird life to a wide audience.
She later became Nellie Blanchan De Graff Doubleday through her marriage to publisher Frank Nelson Doubleday. She died in 1918 while serving with the Red Cross in Canton, China.