Reviews (1)

Positively Brilliant.
Professor Wangari Maathai is truly one of the most important voices of our time. This dynamic and indefatigable Kikuyu woman of Kenya has illuminated rays of light through the dark clouds of Kenya, and so Africa. Standing in the face of oppression and unbearable adversity she faced when Kenya was not a land of freedom, but a state of oppression and discord, it was Wangari's resilient voice, her never-ending effort to stand strong in the winds of injustice, and her ceaseless love of mankind that has in many ways begun the great changes toward democracy and freedom for all individuals not just in Kenya, but in Africa. As the Cold War has, as Professor Maathai clearly and carefully points out, changed the dynamics of government in Africa, the reader becomes aware, in a different way than what is typically presented in the press, of the many issues involved with the challenges that the world faces through the daily experiences of those who seek `Freedom'. Clearly, as the world becomes closer and more connected, the issues that continue in Africa are critical issues that we, as a progressive society, must not simply acknowledge, but do something about. Acting on what is right . . . standing up for your beliefs . . . standing down oppression and hatred . . . and nurturing Mother Earth as she continues to nurture and provide for all, are themes this visionary African woman - who is the first African woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize - shares with the world in her brilliantly written life story. Readers across the world - men and women of all colors and creeds and beliefs will tap into the determination of this extraordinary activist who has taught so many about how love of each other can grow through respecting and nurturing the land we live on. But there is so much more to `Unbowed': Uhuru Park - Freedom Park - is more than a rolling green field in the middle of busy Nairobi, it is more than a starting point for this wonderful woman's love affair with the world, and it is so much more than a gathering point where the notion of planting trees . . . the seeds of The Green Belt Movement occurred. As Professor Maathai has shown through her own life, `Uhuru' is not Free! `Unbowed' is the story of a magnificent and courageous leader who stood up for the oppressed, including the woman of Kenya, and provided hope for better tomorrows by demonstrating that if a person possesses a will to make change, change can and will occur. `Unbowed' is a most remarkable memoir . . . and Professor Wangari Maathai is an ingenious woman of dignity the world continues to learn from. Listen: no matter where you are from, this book will positively change your life.
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Subjects:  1. Biography    2. Biography & Autobiography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Biography/Autobiography    5. Conservation Of Natural Resources (General)    6. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    7. Forest Conservation    8. Kenya    9. People of Color    10. Personal Memoirs    11. Tree planters (Persons)    12. Trees & Forests - General    13. Women    14. Women conservationists    15. Women politicians    16. Biography & Autobiography / Personal Memoirs   

Reviews (1)

Everything you wanted to know about Trees
One of the most beloved and memorable of all popular poems is Joyce Kilmer's 'Trees'" I think that I shall never see/ a poem as lovely as a tree'/ A tree whose hungry mouth is prest/ against the earth's sweet flowing breast/.
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Subjects:  1. Essays    2. Natural History    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Trees    6. Trees & Forests - General    7. Nature / Trees   

Editorial Review

Over the past 16 years Swiss photographer Thomas Marent has traveled all over the world photographing rainforests, from Peru and Ecuador to New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Usually traveling alone, Marent has been known to spend extraordinary lengths of time to get the perfect shot--sometimes 12 days. You can see the results in his first book, Read more

Reviews (3)

DK doesn't disappoint
Well I was ready to dish out some more money for another DK book.. Which I currently own Animal and Earth. I was planning on going with Plant next, but then I saw this one sitting there... I flipped thru it and knew right away this was the next DK book for me. Breath taking pictures of terrain, plants and animals from the rainforest. Not so much wording as DK's other books.. but the pictures are enough. Don't ever be afraid to buy a DK visual book.

Amazing book for parents and children
My [....] son and I stumbled across this book last night and we were absolutely captivated.He is currently studying plants in science and many of the photographs were of plants discussed in class.The photographs mesmerized both of us and we ended up buying the book.I stayed awake to the early morning hours slowly turning the pages as I saw plants and animals in ways I had never before seen.
A true gem
This book is one of the most spectacular collections of nature photography I have ever seen. The author spent 16 years traveling across the tropics, capturing with his camera the very essence of the rainforest ecosystem. Ranging from majestic panoramas of the forest to intimate portraits of birds and mammals (how did he get those wide angle portraits of monkeys?!) to fantastic close ups of invertebrates and mushrooms, this book explores tropical humid forest at all its levels. The message of this magnificent collection is clear - rainforests are the pinnacle of life on Earth, a jewel-studded crown of Nature; they are libraries of genetic and biotic diversity that must be saved at all cost.
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Subjects:  1. Individual Photographer    2. Nature    3. Nature Photography    4. Photo Techniques    5. Photography    6. Pictorial works    7. Rain Forests    8. Subjects & Themes - Plants & Animals    9. Trees & Forests - General    10. Nature / Trees   

Editorial Review

For the untrained observer, it can be quite a challenge to sort out the many trees that make up a stand of older forest in, say, New England or the Ozarks. This well-illustrated guidebook, covering 364 species, comes to the rescue with photographs organized in several ways: by, for example, the shape of the leaf or needle, by the fruit, by the flower or cone, and by autumn coloration. Following one visible characteristic or another, the reader can narrow the range of possibilities, then turn to an informative text that describes a tree's physical characteristics, habitat, and range.Many of the species covered are relatively rare, such as the "stinking cedar" of the Georgia-Florida border; others are locally abundant, such as the paper birch of the boreal forest, used to make ice-cream sticks; still others, such as the smooth sumac, are widespread. The guidebook also covers ornamentals introduced from other continents, such as the Chinese privet and Mahaleb cherry. Read more

Reviews (19)

Great for the Boy Scouts
This field guide is just what the doctor ordered for teaching young Boy Scouts about trees.The leaf and bark pictures are excellent, and the organization of the book is superb.Spend a few minutes going through the examples in the front as to how to most effectively use the guide.I was so impressed with this guide, that I went back and ordered another guide in the series that the Boy Scouts will find helpful - the guide to the night sky and constellations.

Great Book
We took this book on a camping trip last weekend in North Mississippi and were able to identify every tree that we attempted to.This is a VERY GOOD field guide.

What you would expect
I needed this book for my science olympiad team.It is exactly what you would expect from the Audubon society.Great colors, good quality, great examples. I ordered many other field guides at the suggestion from other teachers. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Canada    2. Identification    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. North America    6. Trees    7. Trees & Forests - General    8. United States    9. Botany & plant sciences    10. Nature / Trees    11. Trees & wildflowers   

Reviews (7)

Nothing compares
I own and operate a nursery using both of these books as a primary resource when purchasing conifers from growers.When customers refer to these books at our library, they comment on how beautiful the many conifers are available.My only wish the book had w/b zone hardiness and growth habit.Buy it.ProGardens, Inc.East Amherst, New York.

Conifers : The Illustrated Encyclopedia (Two Volume Set)
Two world authorities compiled this outstanding conifer book featuring 2347 excellent, sharp photos reproduced beautifully on high quality paper.Each picture was taken at the proper distance to show the tree's outstanding detail.Captions are a sentence or two with location oftenincluded.For detail use a good companion book such as the Manual ofCultivated Conifers by Krussmann.Imperative for landscapers and a joy fortree lovers -- a bargain at the cover price.A quality bookclearly at the top of my list of favorites.

great book to figure out what you have growing in your yard.
pictures are great !!butlacks the necessary info on growing,care,climate zones&changes of sasons on the plants.but i love it for all it'svisual contents ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Conifers    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Ornamental conifers    6. Pictorial works    7. Reference    8. Trees    9. Botany & plant sciences    10. Gardening / Trees    11. Horticulture    12. Reference works    13. Shrubs & trees   

Reviews (4)

Absolutely fascinating work
This book took me into the grassroots level work of the newest Nobel Peace Prize winner.I was glad to get a glimpse into what the world is just recognizing as the new frontier - the hope that comes from action at the local level which makes real course changes in our world as a whole.I enjoyed the very practical outline of this movement's accomplishments and connections to the growing consciousness for earth's slow, steady salvation.

GREEN BELT MOVEMENT
I found this book to be an enlightening and educating account of the background and work of the current Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Wangari Maathai.THE GREEN BELT MOVEMENT is currently the only volume that provides as much insight on this topic.
Depressed about the environment?Read this book!!
The Green Belt Movement by Wangari Maathai is a wonderful, informative and user-friendly book that gives a good sense of the movement's history and the person behind it. Just as Maathai in her work likes to keep her hands in the dirt planting trees, in her book she cuts directly to the meat and bones of what the Green Belt Movement is about and how it functions practically on the ground.
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Subjects:  1. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    2. Environmental Studies    3. Green Belt Movement (Society :    4. Green Belt Movement (Society : Kenya)    5. Kenya    6. Natural Resources    7. Nature    8. Nature/Ecology    9. Tree planting    10. Trees & Forests - General    11. Africa    12. Environmentalist, conservationist & Green organizations   

Subjects:  1. Identification    2. Nature    3. Nature/Ecology    4. New York (State)    5. Pictorial works    6. Trees    7. Trees & Forests - General    8. Botany & plant sciences    9. Northeastern & North Atlantic states    10. Reference works    11. Trees & wildflowers   

Reviews (8)

an excellent text
This is an excellent introduction to plant pathology and the kind of book one tends to hold onto to use as a reference after finishing their coursework.I have known plenty of graduate students who've held onto their copies, and I've really never heard any serious criticisms of this book.The coverage is broad, and it will serve as a useful, interesting and highly readable reference for those with interests in bacteriology, virology, mycology, botany and a variety of other fields that overlap with aspects of plant pathology.Typically when I rate textbooks I am fairly harsh because the cost is generally high while contents often leave much to be desired.In my opinion this book is an exception, and I think the cost reasonably reflects the value of the information contained.

Gold standard for general phytopathology.
I have been out of Phytopathology since the fall of 1971.Over the years I have; from time to time; skimmed journals like Mycologia and Phytopathology.So the old urge came back and I bought this text on the recommendation of a friend.
Besttextbook on Plant Pathology
This is by far the best reference on the subject of Plant Pathology.It will be useful not only to plant pathologists, but to other plant scientists and biologists as well.George has done an excellent job in bringing his now famous textbook up to date.I have many books on Plant Pathology; this is by far the best.The fifth edition includes many new pictures and drawings to illustrate the concepts relating to diseases of plants.Plus many new sections dealing with the state-of-art of this science.George says this will probably be the last edition he will write.What a way to cap such an illustrious career! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Agriculture - General    2. Life Sciences - Anatomy & Physiology    3. Life Sciences - Botany    4. Plant diseases    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Trees & Forests - General    8. Plant pathology & diseases    9. Science / Botany   

Editorial Review

On August 5, 1949, lightning came crashing down in the vast spruce forest above Seeley Lake, Montana, and touched off a roaring blaze. As every Westerner knows, lightning means fire, but the fire that raged through Mann Gulch that day was huge--the sort that occurs only every few decades. A battery of paratrooper-firefighters, many of them fresh veterans of World War II, had been anticipating it, and even looking forward to the chance to fight a great fire. Before the day ended thirteen of those smokejumpers lay dead, their charred remains evidence that something had gone terribly wrong. Norman Maclean gives a thorough account of the incident in language not meant for the squeamish: "Burning to death on a mountainside is dying at least three times ... first, considerably ahead of the fire, you reach the verge of death in your boots and your legs; next, as you fail, you sink back in the region of strange gases and red and blue darts where there is no oxygen and here you die in your lungs; then you sink in prayer into the main fire that consumes." After August 1949, he notes, the Forest Service came to recognize that not all fires need to be fought and that fire benefits most forest ecosystems. ... Read more

Reviews (66)

The beginning of wildland safety
Living in Montana and being a a Wildland firefighter as well. This book shows the true speed, power and ultimately the violence that a full blown fire can build to. The men that died in Mann Gulch created in death the first vestiges of the high level of training and safety we now all use when in similar situations. Along with fire on the mountain, required reading if you want to see as fire as we do!

What a Blowhard
The book is way to long it could be 200 pages. Maclean babbles on for paragraphs about something that could be said in a paragraph or two.

A fitting tribute
Norman Maclean was born to write this book. As an outdoorsman, a wildland firefighter of the same generation as the books subjects and one of the greatest writers of the 20th century, Norman Maclean's voice becomes the ideal homage to the hero's of Mann Gulch. While fans of Maclean's fiction might miss some of the poetry of his previous works, they will visit a new side of the author in this work as he pieces together the puzzle of Mann Gulch and makes peace with his own personal ghosts. Here the author, in his words, seeks to let the "tragedy become a story". The tragedy is told in detail, both honestly and reverently. Maclean labors to remain dispassionate and honest, to, "not become to sentimental". The tragedy he relates is horrible, the story of the tragedy is beautiful. It is a fitting tribute to the crosses of Mann Gulch and the memories of those who died there. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Forest fires    3. Historical - U.S.    4. History: American    5. Mann Gulch    6. Montana    7. Natural Disasters    8. Nature    9. Nature/Ecology    10. Prevention and control    11. Smokejumpers    12. Trees & Forests - General    13. United States    14. American history: postwar, from c 1945 -    15. Fire services    16. Nature / Trees    17. Social history    18. USA    19. c 1945 to c 1960   

Reviews (3)

Instant Guide to Trees
Real good drawings of tree leaves, needles and buds. Not any information on tree height (feet), bark or soil conpatibality. Good for beginners.

An Instant Guide toTrees
When I got my book in the mail my face instantly went pale.It was not what I had hoped for, though my third grader will love it .The drawings/graphics are well done, but rarely any size data (how big is the leaf you're looking at for example) and not a single scientific name in sight.I think adults will tire of the book easily for there's not enough detailed infromation.If you have ever tried to distinguish a black oak from a red oak this book is not for you. At last, for $3.99 it's a good deal for your kids.

Excellent Handy Tree Identification Guide
This book was better than two other far more expensive books on tree identification that I recently purchased from Amazon.com.Excellent color graphics and a section to distinguish between/among other trees with similar leaves.One shortcoming is that the entire tree(s)were only identified with shadow outlines instead of using the same color graphics that distinguished the identification of leaves/needles/berries, etc.Another would be the absence of an outline map of the US showing where the trees are found.Instead, there's a written description of the regions. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Bargain Books    2. Canada    3. General    4. Identification    5. Nature    6. Pictorial works    7. Trees    8. Trees & Forests - General    9. United States    10. Reference / General    11. Sale Books   

Reviews (1)

Permaculture Tour-de-force!
If you are a home gardener who has ever stopped to wonder whether permaculture was useful to you, you need to read these books. If you are an intermediate to advanced permaculturist, you will revel in these books. If you want to understand how a single individual with a garden can make the world a better place, you need to read these books.
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Subjects:  1. Climatic - Temperate    2. Ecology    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Nature    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Plants - General    7. Techniques    8. Trees & Forests - General   

Reviews (4)

the one
No mere Peterson field guide, this scholarly work is a concise encyclopedia of all the trees native to the northeastern United States, with descriptions that can truly be used to tell them apart (a unique feat). Belongs in the backpack of any hiker who wants to learn trees.Fits in a half-gallon Ziploc.Remember you need a magnifying glass and a sharp knife to use the book properly.

Best for field work
As a wetland delineator in PA, this book proves invaluable for field identification of trees, shrubs, and vines.Especially useful is are the keys for identification of these plants in winter when leaves and fruiting bodies are non-existant.I have several other tree books for reference, but they rarely are worth carting along in the field now that I have this book.I highly recommend it.

Worthy of the Name
Follows the fine tradition of Peterson Field Guides.Enough said. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Canada    2. Identification    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Shrubs    6. Trees    7. Trees & Forests - General    8. United States    9. NATURAL HISTORY, COUNTRY LIFE & PETS    10. Nature / Trees   

Reviews (1)

Wise advice offered in this book
Reviewed by Nancy Young for Reader Views (6/06)
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Subjects:  1. Inspirational & Religious    2. Nature    3. Nature/Ecology    4. Trees & Forests - General   

Reviews (4)

the best book by far for identifying trees
The instructor I took field biology with in college highly recommended this book.He thought it was by far the best guide for identifying trees.Now, years later and having used (or attempted to use) many different field guides, I know why he was so crazy about this book.Winter or summer, if you are looking at the bark, leaf, or bud, the very clear and detailed pictures and unambiguous text will allow you to identify any tree with certainty.

The Illustrated Book of Trees:A great reference book
This is an excellent and comprehensive book with detailed descriptions of trees by their leaves, flowers, fruits, buds,and bark.The trees are described in their summer and winter aspects.It is a fine reference book not a book to be used in the field to identify trees.You should have an idea which general family of tree you are looking at to narrow the search down as the trees are arranged according to family.At the beginning of each tree description is a section listing those characteristics that are most helpful in identifying the tree.There is also a section at the end comparing the tree to those with which it is most likely to be confused. A glossary of terms is given at the back of the book and dichotomous keys to the families are given at the front.At the beginning of each family more detailed dichotomous keys are given to help the reader distinguish one member of the family from another.Leaf shapes and edges as well as types of fruits, flowers, and buds are illustrated to help the reader understand terminology used in the descriptions
More than identification
I bought my 1983 edition when I was active as a park district volunteer.What sold me on this book was that it went beyond the tree's identification, and told you more about the tree itself.For example, looking up the Sycamore it says "The Sycamore is also known as the Buttonwood, Buttonball-tree, and the American Plane Tree.It is one of the most massive of all our native trees, perhaps exceeding all others in the diameter of its trunk... The wood is heavy, hard, tough and coarse-grained; being difficult to work or split.It is used for furniture - both solid and veneer, interior finish, siding, musical instruments, boxes and crates.Practically all butcher's blocks are made from the Sycamore..." and so on. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Canada, Eastern    2. East (U.S.)    3. Identification    4. Nature    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Pictorial works    7. Reference    8. Trees    9. Trees & Forests - General    10. Northeastern & North Atlantic states    11. Southeastern & South Atlantic states    12. Trees & wildflowers   

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. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    2. Nature    3. Nature/Ecology    4. Trees & Forests - General    5. Literature: Texts    6. Miscellaneous Items    7. Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection   

Reviews (9)

Area the book covers
This book covers eastern North America, including the Midwest and the South.

Good book but difficult to reference in the field
I thought that the "Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Trees" was a very good book to read while at home, but it was difficult to use while I was actually "in the woods." I was looking for something with more illustrations and photos, and larger print wouldn't have hurt either. It would have also been simpler to use if the authors would have included all of the details, about a particular species,together in the book, rather than devoting one section to leaves of all species, another to silhouettes of all species, etc.

The illustrations are too pretty, the system is too cumbersome
As a novice tree identifier in New York City, I wish the book's classifications were more easily located and included more variant names.There is at least one popular tree known variously as the Chinese Scholar Tree and the Japanese Pagoda Tree which does not appear, and, although Florida is filled with wonderful trees, I shall make every effort never to get to Florida to see them and I would have liked more space devoted to the rest of the East and less to Florida.I am certain many people love to identify winter trees by their buds, but I am not one.Although the illustrations are very exciting to look at and very vital, they would be better in a Disney film.I have a local guide which uses photographs and I wish the Peterson Guide used them as well.The most useful segment of the guide is the tree silhouette section. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Canada, Eastern    2. East (U.S.)    3. Identification    4. Nature    5. Nature/Ecology    6. Pictorial works    7. Plants - General    8. Trees    9. Trees & Forests - General    10. Botany & plant sciences    11. Nature / Trees    12. Trees & wildflowers   

Reviews (2)

Magnificent
American Forests and his earlier book Petrified Wood are amazingly beautiful books. I have seen a few of the petrified wood samples in museums which are shown in these books, and the photoimages correspond to the authentic samples. I have two other petrified wood photo books that I have loaned out but I don't remember their titles (mostly chapters by German authors). Daniels two books are the very best. Howard McPherson

The best book on fossil wood bar none
I have been an amateur fossil hunter for 60 years and on rare occasion a book of this quality is printed.
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Subjects:  1. Earth Sciences - General    2. Environmental Science    3. Nature / Rocks & Minerals    4. Nature / Trees    5. Paleontology    6. Petrification    7. Pictorial works    8. Plants, Fossil    9. Science    10. Science / Mineralogy    11. Science/Mathematics    12. Trees, Fossil    13. Paleobotany    14. Petrifaction    15. Petrified forests    16. Wood   

Editorial Review

More than 300 species of trees are found in the United States and Canada west of the Rocky Mountains, some introduced from other continents but many native to the region. This handsome guidebook covers them all, with photographs that enable identification by easily discernible characteristics: by, for example, the shape of the leaf or needle, by the fruit, or by the flower or cone. The photographs are linked to texts that describe a tree's physical characteristics, habitat, and range. Some of the trees covered in this volume are exceedingly rare, such as the Monterey pine; others are locally abundant but limited in range, such as the Joshua tree; still others, such as the quaking aspen, are widespread. This guidebook is an essential addition to any western outdoor enthusiast's collection. Read more

Reviews (5)

North American trees, West.
If your going to be stuffing your field guide into your pocket, glove box, daypack or backpack, the "turtleback" binding used by Audubon is perfect. Personally, I don't use it that way. When I encounter a species I cannot identify, I take notes (usually of the mental variety) -- leaf characteristics, bark characteristics, size, form, habitat, seeds, flowers, etc. -- and identify it when I return home. The photos and drawings in this volume are generally excellent. So far as I can recall, the Audubon guide has yet to fail me. It doesn't include very many introduced (non-native) trees, that's not it's purpose, of course, so it may not help you identify the trees that have been planted in your yard. The Sunset Western Garden Book, or perhaps your local nurseryman, will fit that niche.
Dissappointing:Very hard to identify unknown trees
I spent $20 on this at a local bookstore (that was a mistake: it is only $14 here on Amazon) and got it home and went into my backyard.An hour later, I was only able to identify one of the three trees in the yard.
Quite reliable for outdoor travellers.
The Audubon Guide to Western Trees will prove a long lasting reference for outdoor lovers and tree finders. This easily equals the excellent Eastern Region guide in quality, detail, number of species listed, and beautiful photographs. However, if you want a heavy duty instant identification tool, hold off on this and purchase the Peterson Guides to Trees. However, if you love to marvel at trees and identify them in any amount of time at all, buy this along with the Eastern Guide. The quality binding of this newly updated edition is nice quality, and easy to carry. The earlier, out of print, hardback Economy Press edition was bulky, but contained more species listings. Still that difference is hardly noticeable, and buy this edition at good costs. This guide, (compared to the Petersons) will please a patient outdoor searcher attempting to identify any tree they find. Though the Peterson Guide to Trees should be bought prior to this, it is still an excellent and reliable addition to your collection. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Canada    2. Identification    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. North America    6. Trees    7. Trees & Forests - General    8. United States    9. Botany & plant sciences    10. Nature / Trees    11. Trees & wildflowers   

Reviews (36)

Excellent Resource
After spending hours on the internet trying to select new trees for my yard, this book puts it all in one place. I especially appreciate the photos that show not only the leaves, flowers, but also the structure, shape, and size. Many web sites don't give you the complete "picture" of the tree, but just a special feature. This book was recommended to me by a person who wrote a book about tree selection, and it is an excellent resource.

Great Source for Trees and Tree lovers
For any tree lover, or gardener this is a great read.Specifically targeted to those of us in the northern tier, the book is an excellent source for individual species and varieties, within each selection.
If you are from west of the Missippi, you might want another book.
This should be titled Dirr's Hardy Bias for the East.I noticed nearly all of the reviewers hail from east of the Missippi.That may be the reason no one noticed the omissions of many western trees and thinks this book is the best thing since sliced bread.Dirr is a professor at the University of Georgia, and I can suppose that is the main reason for the bias.And the glowing review from the Washington Post must be for the same reason.I live in Florida now, but grew up in Northern California.Let me say the trees of the East and South are indeed beautiful.I like learning about them.In fact many books talk exclusively of eastern and southern trees.But those books state that in the title.This book does not.If it did, I would like it more (although a more systematic order to the trees and shrubs in it would be a lot more user friendly).The Ponderosa pine is the most widespread pine in North America (Sierras and Rockies would be naked without it) but does not find it's way into the book.The Monterey Cypress which groes naturally and in yards along the Pacific Coast is omitted.The Coast Live Oak (not the Southern Live Oak) shades many hillsides and homes on the west coast, and the Interior Live Oak leaves a signature on the San Joaquin Valley and the Sierra Nevadas, as does the California Black Oak, Valley Oak, and Blue Oak.Western oak species are markedly different from their Eastern cousins (the western oaks do not grow as straight, but sprawl and twist much more than even the Southern Live Oak).The Western Sycamore is a massive and gnarled cousin to the American Sycamore and London Planetree, but didn't make the cut.There are many others that would've been in the book if Dirr taught at the University of Oregon or maybe Colorado State Univerisity or Berkeley.I don't mind a book on eastern trees and southern trees.They are magnificent and beautiful, but let the reader know what to expect.Westerners, if you are looking to plant or to identify trees in your neighborhood, you should skip this expensive non-comprehensive volume. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Encyclopedias    2. Gardening    3. Gardening / Horticulture    4. Gardening/Plants    5. Ornamental shrubs    6. Ornamental trees    7. Pictorial works    8. Reference    9. Shrubs    10. Trees    11. United States    12. Gardening / Trees    13. Horticulture    14. Reference works    15. Shrubs & trees   

Reviews (16)

A good but not great little book
This book is helpful in identifying trees with clear distinctives in their leaves.I had trouble with evergreens whose needles didn't seem to fit the choices that were given.There needs to be more mention of cones, fruit, tree shape, etc.It is, however, small, convenient and helpful with many trees.

I know nothing about trees
At times, this guide was confusing, but it packs a lot of bang for your buck.
Too much error!
I've only been in a dendrology course two weeks to know this book has far too many errors to be taken seriously.My largest complaint is the writing of the scientific names.NEVER do you capitalize the first letter of the species name!The author/ editors were entirely inconsistant about doing so.While they would capitalize species derived from names (eg. Pinus banksiana), they did not capitalize those from states and "americana" (even though the normal English guide they were following would have made them do so). This error occured 17 times in the guide, highly disappointing for a publication.Obviously, they knew general guidelines, but they need to better understand the science behind taxonomy.Teaching people to write names wrong is not a way of expanding knowledge.Also, when writing the common name, NOTHING is capitalized unless it is a name for a PLACE: on page 4, American Elm and REALLY American elm (they avoided this by carefully capitlizing EVERYTHING later in the finder), and just for further information, jack pine is written like that, all lower case because "jack" is not a place.I'm sure there are more errors, I just haven't gotten that far.Anyways, I'm sure it's a cute little book to bring on camping trips, but it does little good in real science, missing key facts that distinguish one species from another..... as well as family names (a NECESSARY component of understanding linking relationships!).If you want to spend the 3.50 on it, go ahead, but be sure not to think of this as a "book," it's only a general, non-scientific, uninformative key for distinguishing common trees in North America. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Identification    3. Nature    4. Nature/Ecology    5. Reference    6. Trees    7. Trees & Forests - General    8. United States