Resources for Readers
Old-Growth Forests
Nature's Temples: The Complex World of Old-Growth Forests
Hardcover – November 16, 2016
by Joan Maloof (Author)
“Maloof eloquently urges us to cherish the wildness of what little old-growth woodlands we have left. . . . Not only are they home to the richest diversity of creatures, but they work hard for humans too.” —New York Times Book Review
An old-growth forest is one that has formed naturally over a long period of time with little or no disturbance from humankind. They are increasingly rare and largely misunderstood. In Nature’s Temples, Joan Maloof, the director of the Old-Growth Forest Network, makes a heartfelt and passionate case for their importance. This evocative and accessible narrative defines old-growth and provides a brief history of forests. It offers a rare view into how the life-forms in an ancient, undisturbed forest—including not only its majestic trees but also its insects, plant life, fungi, and mammals—differ from the life-forms in a forest manipulated by humans. What emerges is a portrait of a beautiful, intricate, and fragile ecosystem that now exists only in scattered fragments. Black-and-white illustrations by Andrew Joslin help clarify scientific concepts and capture the beauty of ancient trees.
The Hidden Life of Trees
The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate―Discoveries from A Secret World (The Mysteries of Nature, 1)
Hardcover – September 13, 2016
by Peter Wohlleben (Author), Jane Billinghurst (Translator), Tim Flannery (Foreword), Suzanne Simard (Contributor)
A NEW YORK TIMES, WASHINGTON POST, AND WALL STREET JOURNAL BESTSELLER • One of the most beloved books of our time: an illuminating account of the forest, and the science that shows us how trees communicate, feel, and live in social networks. After reading this book, a walk in the woods will never be the same again.
“Breaks entirely new ground ... [Peter Wohlleben] has listened to trees and decoded their language. Now he speaks for them.”—The New York Review of Books
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY BRAINPICKINGS • HONORABLE MENTION: SEJ Rachel Carson Environment Book Award • Shortlisted: Audible International Book of the Year Award • Books For a Better Life Award • Indie Choice Award—Nonfiction Book of the Year
Are trees social beings? In The Hidden Life of Trees forester and author Peter Wohlleben convincingly makes the case that, yes, the forest is a social network. He draws on groundbreaking scientific discoveries to describe how trees are like human families: tree parents live together with their children, communicate with them, support them as they grow, share nutrients with those who are sick or struggling, and even warn each other of impending dangers. Wohlleben also shares his deep love of woods and forests, explaining the amazing processes of life, death, and regeneration that he has observed in his woodland.
“A declaration of love and an engrossing primer on trees, brimming with facts and an unashamed awe for nature.”—Washington Post
“Heavily dusted with the glitter of wonderment.”—The New Yorker
Includes a Note From a Forest Scientist by Dr.Suzanne Simard
A Tree Memory Game
Game Book
Match a Leaf: A Tree Memory Game
by Tony Kirkham (Author), 826 Valencia (Illustrator)
Learn to distinguish your ash from your sassafras in this arboreal memory game.
Place the cards face down and see if you can remember where the matching pairs are located. Collect more pairs than your opponent to win!
With common UK and US trees included as well as interesting trees from around the world, this fun and educational game is an ideal gift that will appeal to nature lovers everywhere. The game features interesting facts about the trees, written by the Head of the Arboretum at the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew.
Poems About Trees
Book
Poems About Trees
(Everyman's Library Pocket Poets Series)
Hardcover – October 1, 2019
by Harry Thomas (Editor)
A unique anthology of poems—from around the world and through the ages—that celebrate trees.
For thousands of years humans have variously worshipped trees, made use of them, admired them, and destroyed them—and poets have long chronicled the relationship. Poets from Homer and Virgil to Wordsworth, Whitman, and Thoreau, from Su Tung P'o and Basho to Czeslaw Milosz and W. S. Merwin have celebrated sacred groves, wild woodlands, and bountiful orchards, and the results include some of our most beloved poems.
Whether showing their subjects being planted or felled, cherished or lamented, towering in forests or flowering in backyards, the poems collected here pay lyrical tribute to these majestic beings with whom we share the earth.
Includes:
• “Birches" by Robert Frost
• “The Camperdown Elm” by Marianne Moore
• “Binsey Poplars” by Gerard Manley Hopkins
• “Sequoia" by Zbigniew Herbert
• “The Lemon Trees" by Eugenio Montale
• “The Apples" by Yves Bonnefoy
• “The Plum Tree" by Bertolt Brecht
• “The Almond Tree" by D.H. Lawrence
• “The Loveliest of Trees" by A.E. Housman
Everyman's Library pursues the highest production standards, printing on acid-free cream-colored paper, with full-cloth cases with two-color foil stamping, decorative endpapers, silk ribbon markers, European-style half-round spines, and a full-color illustrated jacket.
The Architecture of Trees
Book
The Architecture of Trees
Hardcover – March 26, 2019
by Cesare Leonardi (Author), Franca Stagi (Author)
"Any landscape architect worth their soil should pick up The Architecture of Trees, an all-encompassing atlas of all things tree-related."—The Architect's Newspaper
An incredible book for anyone interested in trees, this botanical masterwork's new edition preserves the original magnificent illustrations and text, translated into English for the first time.
Selected as an "Oprah's Favorite Things" pick upon its release, The Architecture of Trees is a gorgeous, large-format volume that features more than 550 exquisite quill-pen drawings of trees. The result of over twenty years of dedicated study by landscape architects Cesare Leonardi and Franca Stagi, this is a legendary and unsurpassed masterwork.
This new edition’s features include:
- Each of the 212 tree species drawn to a scale of 1:100, with and without foliage.
- Tables of seasonal color variation and projections of shadows cast during the hours of daylight and season by season.
- Detailed and scientific drawings found in no other tree book.
Considered a standard in many landscape architecture firms, this botany book’s drawings, essays, and charts are essential for large-scale landscaping projects and a helpful tool for backyard renovations. Landscape designers will think in new ways about the effect of seasons and the time of day on trees, and anyone interested in nature and trees will be captivated by the hand-drawn illustrations, each stunning in detail.
An oversized, captivating coffee table book for lovers of art and nature illustrations, The Architecture of Trees "could be considered the Bible for tree lovers" (Western Art & Architecture). With its accurate drawings of trees and detailed looks at branches, leaves, and fruit, it also serves as a helpful tree identification book and a reference guide for landscape architecture, botany, dendrology, architecture, and illustration students.
Trees: Their Natural History
Book
Trees: Their Natural History
2nd Edition
by Peter A. Thomas (Author)
Trees are familiar components of many landscapes and have been vital in determining the ecology of our planet as well as the development of human cultures and communities. Yet how much do we really understand about how they work? This updated and revised edition provides a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of tree biology and ecology and presents the state-of-the-art discoveries in this area. The wonders and mysteries of trees are explored throughout the book and questions such as why leaves turn spectacular colours in the autumn, how water reaches the top of the tallest trees, or why the study of genetics has caused so many name changes in trees are all brilliantly answered. Written with a non-technical approach, this book will be a valuable source of reference for students and those with a less formal interest in this fascinating group of plants.
How to Be More Tree
Book
How to Be More Tree: Essential Life Lessons for Perennial Happiness
by Potter Gift (Author), Annie Davidson (Illustrator)
A beautifully illustrated celebration of the wisdom of trees and what they can teach us about everyday life, from basking in the sun to weathering the storm.
This sweet and informative book brings together fifty-nine universal life lessons taken from the infinite wisdom of trees. As you learn about dozens of trees, from the Acai palm to the Yoshino cherry, you'll find that their means of survival are not so different from ours. The juniper tree proves that it's possible to flourish anywhere as long as we put down strong roots. A mountain hemlock finds strength basking in the sun while a black walnut's sturdiness comes from its thick, steely core. The hawthorn demonstrates resilience as it adapts to strong winds and storms by finding balance in its roots.
Trees have many more lessons to offer, from letting go of the past, to branching out, to resisting the urge to overstretch ourselves. With detailed illustrations and advice for lifelong happiness, How to Be More Tree is an essential companion for all those moments when we're having trouble seeing the forest for the trees. Learn about World Dendrology Day's commitment to environmental conservation and research, and our efforts to promote biodiversity and sustainability in the local ecosystem.
How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness
Book
Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness
Hardcover – Illustrated, April 17, 2018
by Dr. Qing Li (Author)
The definitive--and by far the most popular--guide to the therapeutic Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, or the art and science of how trees can promote health and happiness
Notice how a tree sways in the wind. Run your hands over its bark. Take in its citrusy scent. As a society we suffer from nature deficit disorder, but studies have shown that spending mindful, intentional time around trees--what the Japanese call shinrin-yoku, or forest bathing--can promote health and happiness.
In this beautiful book--featuring more than 100 color photographs from forests around the world, including the forest therapy trails that criss-cross Japan--Dr. Qing Li, the world's foremost expert in forest medicine, shows how forest bathing can reduce your stress levels and blood pressure, strengthen your immune and cardiovascular systems, boost your energy, mood, creativity, and concentration, and even help you lose weight and live longer.
Once you've discovered the healing power of trees, you can lose yourself in the beauty of your surroundings, leave everyday stress behind, and reach a place of greater calm and wellness.
The Complete Language of Trees
Book
The Complete Language of Trees: A Definitive and Illustrated History (Volume 12)
(Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia, 12)
Hardcover – Illustrated, March 28, 2023
by S. Theresa Dietz (Author)
The Complete Language of Trees is a comprehensive encyclopedia providing the meanings, powers, facts, and folklore for over 400 types of trees.
Along with a stunning visual depiction, each entry provides the tree’s scientific and common name, characteristics, and historic and hidden properties from mythology, legends, and folklore.
Discover the lore of trees, including:
Hackberry Tree – encourages someone to continuously do their best
- Manchineel Tree – it is so toxic that the smoke from a burning tree can cause blindness, and it is not even advised to inhale the air around the tree
- Bark from the Bird Cherry Tree was placed on doors during medieval times to ward off plague
- Washi paper is created from the inner bark of the Paper Mulberry Tree.
- Pando is a Quaking Aspen colony that is 108 acres wide (about the size of 83 football fields!). It is technically one tree.
Imagine developing a spiritual connection with a tree in a way that exceeds visual perception; where learning its meaning and value simultaneously improves your own mental and physical wellness. Throughout history, floriographies—flower dictionaries—have gained notoriety for regulating human emotions and giving depth, symbolism, and meaning to extremely delicate aspects of nature. Following the success of The Complete Language of Herbs and its predecessor The Complete Language of Flowers, author S. Theresa Dietz continues this custom with The Complete Language of Trees.
The Art of Outdoor Living
Book
The Art of Outdoor Living: Gardens for Entertaining Family and Friends
March 19, 2019
by Scott Shrader (Author), Lisa Romerein (Photographer), Jean-Louis Deniot (Foreword)
LIVE WELL IN YOUR GARDEN: Turn your backyard into a stylish, livable oasis with garden design and outdoor entertaining advice from a landscape designer to the stars. This garden coffee table book showcases the very best of indoor/outdoor living through tours of 12 beautiful properties!
Pools made private by lush plantings, bedrooms open to the back yard, bar seating by the outdoor oven . . . California native and exterior architect Scott Shrader is known for creating covetable outdoor rooms for clients including Ellen DeGeneres and Patrick Dempsey. In this garden coffee table book, he shares the grounds of 12 beautiful properties for the first time—all designed to be lived in and enjoyed as extensions of the homes they surround.
Shrader shows us how to connect the landscape outside with interior décor, resulting in an exterior environment that flows naturally, stylishly, and serenely from this core. He also inspires us to think of the way these outdoor spaces will be used, and plan ahead for ways to keep our family and guests fed, warm, and entertained. Folded in between the featured gardens—which range in style from Hollywood Regency to Modern Moroccan—are meditative essays on Sustainability, Lifestyle, and Pathways, as Shrader reflects on how gardens change in small and big ways, transforming with the light, weather, cycle of seasons, and passage of years.
Perfect for anyone interested in interior and landscape design, The Art of Outdoor Living is an indispensable guide to creating chic gardens for entertaining, playing, and relaxing.
Wooden Bookmarks from Trees
Bookmarks
About these bookmarks:
Handmade wooden bookmarks featuring a stunning winter willow tree, beautifully captured in rich, fade-proof color. The intricate branches of the willow stretch gracefully across the maple center of the bookmark, symbolizing resilience, wisdom, and connection, qualities deeply tied to the act of reading and storytelling. Much like a willow bends with the wind yet remains grounded, books invite us to explore new ideas while staying rooted in our inner growth. Proudly crafted in the USA, this bookmark is a timeless gift for nature lovers, readers, and anyone who finds inspiration in the strength and beauty of trees.
Drawing Trees
Drawing
Drawing: Trees with William F. Powell: Learn to paint step by step (How to Draw & Paint Book 259)
by William F. Powell (Author)
In this book, William F. Powell invites you into his artistic world as he shows you how to render a variety of beautiful trees in pencil. The author explains a number of basic drawing techniques before exploring basic tree shapes and leaf types. As you learn how to draw branches, bark, and ground foliage, step by step, you'll also discover important tips about shading, creating textures, setting up compositions, and applying perspective, helping you develop your own tree drawings to their fullest potential. Helpful examples and essential information make this comprehensive guide a valuable addition to any artist's drawing library!
More Resources for Readers
Textbook of Dendrology
Harlow and Harrar's Textbook of Dendrology
9th Edition
by James W. Hardin (Author), Donald J. Leopold (Author), Fred M. White (Author)
After nearly 60 years, with descriptions of more than 270 species and almost 200 illustrations, Textbook of Dendrology continues to remain a top resource for taxonomic and silvicultural information on North American trees. In this new edition, material throughout the text has been updated and expanded to provide current information on tree sizes, damaging diseases and insect pest, economic uses, and silvics. Because of growing concern for the environment, it is even more necessary for students to know and understand the importance of conservation. Many of these issues are incorporated throughout the book.