It is noted for its limestone soil, and supports a number of uncommon species that do not grow in the acid soils of much of the rest of the state. Another good way to preserve native wildflowers and learn about them in the process is to grow them yourself. Never dig from the wild, of course, and be certain that the nursery you buy from has not done so. Some wildflowers, orchids in particular, require very specific soil conditions that are difficult to duplicate. Since they are often also slow to propagate, even if undisturbed, digging even a few plants in an attempt to increase their numbers usually does more harm than good.
Some excellent guidebooks are available at libraries and bookstores.
The first two I use constantly. I find them easy to use with excellent illustrations. A couple of good trail books that I use that cover some local natural areas are Walks and Rambles in Rhode Island , and More Walks and Rambles in Rhode Island , both by Ken Weber, and available from Backcountry Publications, P.O. Box 175, Woodstock, VT, 05091. They also publish the Walks and Rambles series for other New England states. They have information on guided walks, plant sales, and publications on individual species, with propagation and cultivation information of native plants.