Reviews (3)

National Geographic Field Guide to Trees of North America
Good leaf, fruit, bud and bark pictures. Typical of NG. Uses a lot of symbols to describe a tree which means going back and forth a lot. Does not give tree height or branch geography.

A surprising amount of detail for what initially looks to be light pocket tote reading
There are plenty of guides to trees on the market - but few offered in a portable tote format which truly lends to pocket take-along. You can put this in a backpack or even a back pocket: it's slim, compact, yet full of color illustrations of the complete tree plus close-ups of leaves, buds, flower and more. Keith Rushforth is an arboricultural consultant and expert urban forester: his expertise and coverage are extensively represented and provide a surprising amount of detail for what initially looks to be light pocket tote reading.
Nice illustrations but---
a HORRIBLE GUIDE!I am an arborist and use field guides all of the time.This is the WORST guide I have ever tried to use.There is little or no organization in the way each tree is described.Sometimes a tree's height is given in the opening description, other times you have to search for it in the body of the entry.Sometimes a flower is described, other times no description appears at all.Each feature that may define a tree is thrown in, in a slapdash manner, or left out, completely.It's as if the authors knew that NG was paying them big bucks for a guide, and they simply threw it together as fast as they could to get their paychecks.Forget ever trying to read this guide if you don't have your degree in the sciences, as I do.The terminology is straight out of Botany 101/102, and you'll use the glossary to make it through each and every tree description.FWIW, the measurements are given using the metric system. I guess it's a guide for Canadians, so if you're in the US and haven't been raised with metric measurements, you'll be frustrated on this count, as well.The tiny symbol key that lets you know which symbol stands for each type of area a given tree may be found in is almost impossible to make out.If you have a magnifying lense, you'll be OK.Again, if you like great illustrations of trees and their constituent parts, this guide may be for you.If you want a good guide that helps you identify trees easily--PASS THIS ONE BY! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Nature    2. Nature / Field Guide Books    3. Nature/Ecology    4. Trees    5. Trees & Forests - General    6. Nature / Trees   

Reviews (5)

The American palm compendium
Palms are a very conspicuous feature of the tropical landscape, whether in the wilds of Central and South America or in the suburban environments further north. They are also important economically (usually as fruit crops) and culturally (having uses as diverse as roofing, as material for weaving hammocks as fodder for edible beetle larvae!). Since everyone knows what a palm is, yet most non-specialists cannot get much beyond that, this guide to their identification should fill a niche.
a must have
if you're interested in neotropical palms, you ought to buy this excellent guide. all three authors are considered to be highly esteemed authorities who know their stuff very well. the description said it had approximately 380 pages, but together with all the appendices and photo pages, the total number of pages gets to 500.

A must for all palm enthusiasts
Overall it would say that it 's the excellent job that authors has put together all the description of American palm species. It would be welcome among serious palm collectors as well as reserchers.Read more

Subjects:  1. Nature/Ecology    2. Nature / Field Guide Books    3. Trees    4. Palms    5. Biological Sciences    6. Botany & plant sciences    7. Nature / Plants    8. The Americas    9. America    10. Plants - General    11. Nature    12. Identification   

Reviews (3)

Dated, but still a classic
I have got the 1959 edition, but have the feeling the book has not changed much since then. In 1959 this was an above-average book aimed at the general public. It illustrates the woods treated by distribution maps, botanical line drawings and black-and-white photographs. Content was pretty good, with the names, both scientific and trade names, very much in order.
Know your Woods? Not after reading this book
I don't understand why anyone would publish a book anymore with black and white illustrations. I know this is supposed to be a classic and all that so it's my own fault for not checking when I read the description. I don't even know why I'm keeping it; I'll never read it. You have to wade through tons of technical jargon and lengthy chapters that would be much better served by some large color photographs. Maybe that makes me shallow, I don't know, but there are much more 'complete guides' out there on this topic these days.

Know Your Woods: A Complete Guide
This book seems to be complete and informative for basic information about the subject matter.It is a good reference for basic information.The reader must look elsewhere for detailed information (such as would be of interest to engineers, scientists, and luthiers). ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Encyclopedias    2. General    3. Nature    4. Nature / Field Guide Books    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Timber    7. Trees    8. Trees & Forests - General    9. Veneers and veneering    10. Wood    11. Forestry & related industries    12. Nature / General   

Reviews (7)

Coniferophiles Will Love This Book
For me, the conifers are the trees that really make a difference.Each one is such a unique and majestic statement on the landscape.
Bountiful and Plentiful
Conifers grow old, big and tall in California. What better book for discovering the coniferous bounty that the state has to offer. Second only behind Mexico in native conifer species, the conifer elevates the landscape and become an indelible symbolic reflection of all that is natural in California, from theSierra rich in yellow, sugar and Jefferey Pine to the isolated groves of heavy sequoia, magnificent in their collosal staure. High in the White Mountains of Eastern California, living at seemingly impossible heights the bristlecone pine lives long and prosperous in stauesque poses in an inhospitable environment. The redwood defines the Northern coast, living lavishly in mist shrouded groves. The mighty Tahoe National Forest displays a rich blanket of fine firs as far as the eye can see...

Lanner (the author) is a genius.....
I would love to be able to add to the other (four) reviews here, regarding this book, but I think I'll recommend that you read those reviews, and simply accept their accolades....
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Subjects:  1. California    2. Conifers    3. Nature / Field Guide Books    4. Plants - General    5. Science/Mathematics    6. Trees & Forests - General   

Reviews (25)

"A seed like no other"
Dropped by its parent over three centuries ago, the seed produced something special in the way of a tree.Rising from the soil alongside a river in an island off the West Coast of North America, it produced a Sitka spruce of unusual character.It was a Golden Spruce.When migrating Asian peoples settled on the island it became the source of mythologies, venerated it as part of their heritage.One dark night, however, it was hewn nearly down by a man with a sense of mission.John Vaillant, in a brilliant, comprehensive account of the tree, its worshippers and its changing surroundings, relates how the tree's story is important to us all.
good picture of primitive place
Having travelled in the areaI found the description of setting and characters very reminiscent of what I know to be there.Good story but the fifth star is withheld because of pools of distraction here and there in the book.I suspected that the story needed to be "plumped up" to make it book length rather than a short story.
No more paper towels for me.
After finishing this book I felt like booking a trip to British Columbia to see some of what remains of the precious forests Vaillant describes.Warning:This book will make you question your consumption habits andyour personal culpability in the destruction of North American forests. If you read it, be prepared for a shock.Few of us outside the logging industry know just how much has been lost.I would recommend this book to anyone.It is entertaining, informative and motivational without being preachy or condescending. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - Forestry    2. British Columbia    3. Forest Management    4. Hadwin, Grant    5. Haida Indians    6. Logging    7. Nature    8. Nature / Field Guide Books    9. Nature/Ecology    10. Queen Charlotte Islands    11. Sitka spruce    12. Trees    13. Trees & Forests - General    14. Biography: general    15. Forestry & silviculture: practice & techniques   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Identification    3. Nature    4. Nature / Field Guide Books    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Pacific Coast (U.S.)    7. Pictorial works    8. Reference    9. Trees    10. Trees & Forests - General   

Reviews (5)

Delightful
"Leaves in Myth, Magic & Medicine" is a delightful book that will bring readers years of pleasure.Like nature itself, the magestic beauty contained within is revealed slowly in layers.More than just a beautiful picture book, the text for each leaf portrait is rich yet concise."Leaves in Myth, Magic & Myth" is a wonderful monograph to give to naturalists, environmentalists, folklorists, herbalists, family or friends who want to widen their horizons while deepening their appreciation for trees.

Truly unique
This original and unique book was written by an 87 year old retiredlibrarian.Ms. Vitale devoted 30 years to researching and creating thiswonderful portrait of leaves.The 110 leaf specimens are all grown inAmerican soil.The author includes fascinating information on tree lore,medicine, botany and so much more.This book brought me hours of pleasureand is also a great reference book.I highly recommend this book to anyonewho has an interest and love for trees and/or all aspects of nature.

A True Work of Art!
Good Lord, this book is absolutely stunning!What a find!Getting this book as a holiday gift is indeed a good argument for writing an accurate self-description on one's wish list - I said I loved leaves and I got thisamazing book which I never even knew existed.The ink autoprints are sofinely detailed, it's hard to believe they are really printed off livingleaves.Meeting the woman/artist/botanist who so lovingly (obviously) andpainstakingly created these prints would be an honor and truly fascinating. This is a case of art imitating yet surpassing nature by making you reallySEE and understand its wonder. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Folklore    2. Folklore & Mythology - Folklore    3. Herbal Medications    4. Leaves    5. Materia medica    6. Materia medica, Vegetable    7. Nature    8. Nature / Field Guide Books    9. Nature/Ecology    10. Plants - General    11. Trees & Forests - General    12. Mind, body, spirit: disciplines & techniques    13. Myths & mythology    14. Nature / Trees    15. Trees & wildflowers   

Reviews (3)

A great read. Great photographs.
This is a wonderful book on the magnificent redwoods and is a great read.It covers the ancient history and scientific aspects of the redwood forest as well as the cultural history from the glutinous, pillaging past to the environmental inspiration and discoveries that may help save some small remnant of this tiny but magestic portion of our planet.
Finally a redwood book with facts to match its pictures
Coast redwood is the world's tallest tree. It is also one of the most useful,rapidly producing enormous volumes of high-grade timber that satisfies many of man's structural and esthetic needs. It grows in very wet habitats that support high biodiversity. And the land it grows on is often fragile and easily eroded with disastrous consequences. For these reasons, and some others, the management and conservation of coast redwood has for well over a century been a focus of popular passions and public policies. From the fraudulent land-grabs of the Timber and Stone Act days to the tree-sit of Julia Butterfly Hill, this valuable and beautiful tree has excited those who would destroy it,those who would preserve it, and those who would use it sustainably.Coast redwood is also a botanical curiosity, from its hexaploid genome to its clonal habit; and much has been learned of its paleohistory. Finally, it is probably the tree that is known of by more people than any other, famous almost everywhere in the world. It is not surprising that much ink has been spilled over the years because of this tree. It has probably inspired the writing of more books than any other woody species, and the publication of more pretty pictures. Unfortunately, most of those books were written when little was known of the science of redwood; or when environmental photography had few practitioners; or by authors who knew a good sales opportunity but had little knowledge of their subject. Well, finally a redwood book has emerged that has the facts to match its utterly stunning pictorials. Though team-written by six authors, its expertise is unquestioned, and its smooth editing lets you glide without bumps from one topic to another. And the topics are comprehensive: origins and distribution, life history, ecology, wildlife, harvest and utilization, history of preservation, and conservation and management. Before writing this review I focused mainly on the biology, and found it nearly impeccable, and far more detailed than what is available elsewhere. But I found myself frequently turning pages to admire the color photos, or the nineteenth century black-and-whites, or the fascinating sidebars on a wide variety of subjects. So maybe I missed an overstatement, or even a blunder somewhere. Maybe. But since this is hands-down the most sumptously illustrated, factually rich monograph of any single tree species ever written for a popular and professional readership, I can only recommend you buy it. But only if you have an interest in forestry, botany, the environment, conservation, history, or wildlife. And if you think you can keep friends and family members from snatching it when your back is turned.

A must read for anyone interested in Redwood forests
Novices and academics alike will want copies for their libraries.Read more

Subjects:  1. Coast redwood    2. Ecology    3. Forest conservation    4. Forest ecology    5. Nature    6. Nature / Field Guide Books    7. Nature/Ecology    8. Plants - General    9. Trees & Forests - General   

Reviews (2)

Everything You Might Have Wanted to Know about Flowers
William C. Burger's "Flowers: How They Changed the World" is certainly a labor of love. His clear and enthusiastic prose transported me back to a course in botany I had at the University of Arizona around 1970.As a zoologist I had had little contact with botany, but I had always been interested in the subject.The course I took in botany opened up this fascinating world and I now remember the hours I spent in class and in hunting flowering plants in the desert as golden.This book brought all that delight back.
A top pick for college-level students and leisure readers who like science and gardening books
Flowers are one of the most attractive aspects of the outdoors; but they didn't evolve just for humans to appreciate. Botanist and science writer William Burger examines the role of flowers in the natural world, from how their bright colors and shapes attract and induce animals to help with pollination to how they serve as an energy resource. Chapters survey flowers, their pollinators, and how flowers have enabled ecosystems to survive in his lively blend of botanical research and wide-ranging natural history insights. A top pick for college-level students and leisure readers who like science and gardening books.
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Subjects:  1. Botany    2. Botany (General)    3. Flowering Plants (Angiospermae)    4. Flowers    5. General    6. Life Sciences - Botany    7. Miscellanes    8. Nature    9. Nature / Field Guide Books    10. Nature/Ecology    11. Plants    12. Plants - General    13. Trees & wildflowers   

Reviews (3)

It's really friendly, and really good
Patty Leslie Pasztor and Paul Cox are two of the great gurus of native plant life in Texas. And they are just as friendly as this book is. I have many Texas native plant books on my shelf, but this if my first "go to" volume. I especially love Patty's ethnobotany commentaries. They add a great breadth of understanding to Texas human history, as well as its natural history.

Indispensable
If you are interested in trees and live in Texas, this is the ONE book you must have. So often you have to buy a Western U.S. book for West Texas and an Eastern U.S. book for East Texas - and you still don't have all the trees in the Rio Grande Valley that are primarily Mexican. ItReally Works!
Ever wonder what kind of tree you're looking at? If you're in Texas, you can't miss with this book.Read more

Subjects:  1. Identification    2. Nature    3. Nature / Field Guide Books    4. Reference    5. Texas    6. Trees    7. Trees & Forests - General   

Subjects:  1. Identification    2. Nature    3. Nature / Field Guide Books    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Shrubs    6. Texas    7. Texas - State Government    8. Trans-Pecos (Tex. and N.M.)    9. Trees    10. Trees & Forests - General    11. U.S. House Of Representatives    12. Botany & plant sciences    13. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    14. Nature / Trees    15. USA   

Subjects:  1. Canada    2. Identification    3. Nature / Field Guide Books    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Shrubs    6. Trees    7. United States    8. Trees & wildflowers   

Reviews (2)

Introducing the Eastern Forest
The purpose of this guide is not to assist one in identifying species of flora and fauna found in the Eastern Forest--such a tome would be monumental in size--but rather to instill in the reader an understanding of the forest's general dynamics.The book is divided into eight sections; they are: A Great Buy, Very Interesting
This is a great field guide that covers many aspects of forests East of the Great Plains. Although it covers many common species of both animal and plant, it is not overly helpful for positively identifying individualspecies; and if one wants that, you are better off with a more specificfield guide (i.e., Eastern Birds). It does, however, detail the workings ofa forest and accompanies this fascinating text with 53 color plates, 80color photos and many black and white drawings. In the first few chapters,it demonstrates the different forest types through indicator species; andit details the process of Old Field succesion, and the animals and plantsthat come and go as the process progresses. In the last chaptersadaptation, and seasonal patterns are covered. I would highly reccommendthis field guide for any one who would like to know how a forest works. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Forest animals    2. Forest ecology    3. Forest plants    4. Forestry (Specific Aspects)    5. General    6. Identification    7. Life Sciences - Ecology    8. Nature / Field Guide Books    9. Nature/Ecology    10. North America    11. Plant Ecology    12. Trees & wildflowers    13. USA   

Reviews (5)

Tree
I was a little disappointed in this book.I had been hoping it would be a more affordable version of Thomas Pakenham's "Remarkable Trees of the World"--straightforward photographs of unusual trees.Balog's pictures, however, are tricked up--the trees are wrapped in cloth a la Christo'strees in Central Park, or the photographs themselves are sliced and diced.Balog's book is more art than botany.

Conveys the Spirit of each tree.
Using multiple images and then overlaying them with 1000's of hours in Photoshop Balog presents a view of trees we can never get with our own eyes.No one can get.These images are at once photographically "real" and surprisingly artistic.As such, they convey the spirit of each tree - not easy to do in any medium.Enjoy.

More than a coffe table book
It is a book for those that are tired of the standard, boring photography, like me.True photography is an art in creating a painting out of film.This photographer often made his own type of canvas within the limits of nature it's self.Rather than just take pictures of a beautiful tree as they were, he let you into the world of a tree through various angle shots, multiple shots, and different backgrounds.He created them and didn't just shove a camera in their direction.He made them appear to be living and moving creatures.It's magical and chilling.Instead of just shooting landscape with gorgeous trees in it he chose to make a story behind it all.This was not another average project that was only about seeking the pretty and portraying only that.It feels as though there are real thoughts behind those trees.Or as though there is some bigger idea than just beauty.For example: In one frame he adjusted the focus just a bit to make it seem as though this tree was actually reaching out to you with it's limbs, aching for you to take hold of it!In another it appears as though one unaware tree was caught dancing.These are just some teasers but there is so much more.It's like make-up!Make-up was meant as an enhancer not a total make-over.That just is what he has done.Enhanced something already beautiful on it's own and made it all so alluring.I hope whoever buys this book looks at this peice of art with the mind of, "now this is what it truly is all about."This is what I raid the shelves for in the books I choose to read, in the movies I choose to watch, and in the art I choose to spy apon.Idea.Bigger and better than the creation itself!This is not a book for the coffe table!It is better than that and deserves the study of thought.If you are like me this is a book for you and not just your coffe table chatter like so many others.I encourage all to venture away from normal and step into the universe of imagination! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Nature    2. Nature / Field Guide Books    3. Nature/Ecology    4. Trees & Forests - General    5. NATURE - NATURE    6. Nature / Trees   

Reviews (1)

Outstanding reference for the tree lover
This large-format reference is a sheer joy to browse and eye candy for tree lovers. Beautiful photos, illustrations, tables, charts, and thumbnail maps indicating native distribution are just some of the features. The beginning chapter "What Is A Tree" traces the morphological characters and structural diversity as well as a section of "deconstructing wood" which covers growth rings, bark characteristics, the root system, leaves, flowers and fruits, and the growth of trees. The second chapter, "Forests," discusses the forest ecosystem, and the various forests of the world. "Trees and Mankind" covers the forestry industry. The remainder of the book arranges trees by family (with the exception of the "Trees of the Tropics" genera, which are ordered alphabetically). Each category includes a thorough description, charts indicating common names, the different species, a thumbnail world map with colored areas indicating natural distribution and beatifully rendered illustrations showing tree structure, leaves, fruits, etc. All entries include outstanding color photographs, many of them full page. A glossary of tree-related terms and an index is included. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Encyclopedias    2. Nature    3. Nature / Field Guide Books    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Reference    6. Reference And Information Services    7. Trees    8. Trees & Forests - General    9. Nature / Trees    10. Trees - Encyclopedias   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Identification    3. Nature / Field Guide Books    4. Texas    5. Trees   

Subjects:  1. Flowers    2. General    3. Nature    4. Nature / Field Guide Books    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Reference    7. Trees & Forests - General    8. Non-Classifiable    9. Reference works    10. Texas    11. Trees & wildflowers   

Reviews (8)

Good Photographic Reference for Preliminary Identification
This book fills the need for a color reference that can quickly help in the identification of both softwoods and hardwoods.The charts showing the home range of the species greatly helps with ID.I highly recommend this book for use by the interested layman.The color photographs, while small, are a great aid to wood identification for the non-professional.It is an excellent resource.
The book itself is fine!
I was waiting for probably over one month.
Excellent book for the money, but ...
To start, this is a very nice book, lots of nice pictures of things made from wood, location shots, and as much information as almost anyone would want to know about wood, in general.My problem is with the title word "Encyclopedia". "Thorough Introduction" would have been a better choice.As for the individual woods covered, the author selected about 150 which he expanded on nicely.Considering the thousands of woods in the world, 150 could hardly be considered encyclopedic (unless of course this was just volume one).There is a mixture of common and very obscure woods.I can only assume there was a reason behind the selection process.There was also a considerable bias toward European wood over the western hemisphere.The wood ID photos seemed a bit small at 1.25 inches square (about 3.3 centimeters for the Europeans).
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Subjects:  1. Dictionaries    2. Encyclopedias    3. Nature    4. Nature / Field Guide Books    5. Reference    6. Trees & Forests - General    7. Wood    8. Wood Technology And Products   

Subjects:  1. Desert plants    2. Identification    3. Nature / Field Guide Books    4. Seed-Bearing Plants (Spermatophyta)    5. Shrubs    6. Southwest, New    7. Trees   

Subjects:  1. Identification    2. Nature    3. Nature / Field Guide Books    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Plants - General    6. Texas    7. Texas Hill Country    8. Trees & Forests - General    9. Woody plants    10. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS